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1 The Big Idea
The Activity, Not Just the Fact
📘 Level 2 — Present Perfect Continuous — Lesson 1

In lesson 36, you learned the Present Perfect with for and since: I have lived here for ten years. This tells a fact about now.

The Present Perfect Continuous tells about an activity. The activity started in the past and is still happening: I have been working on this report for three hours. The speaker shows the activity and the time passing.

Present Perfect (a fact):
I have lived here for ten years. (where I live now)
She has known him since college. (their relationship)

Present Perfect Continuous (an activity):
I have been working on this report for three hours. (I am still working.)
It has been raining since this morning. (It is still raining.)
She has been teaching here for fifteen years. (She is still teaching.)
2 The Structure
Building the Tense
Subject + have/has been + verb-ing + for / since + time

Our neighbors have been fixing their house for three months.
Ben has been running every morning since last fall.
I have been learning Spanish for two years.
Sam has been working here since January.

For and since work the same way as in lesson 36: for + a length of time (two years, a long time), since + a starting time (January, 2019, the accident).

3 State Verbs
Verbs That Do Not Use -ING

Some verbs describe a condition, not an action. You cannot be "in the middle of" knowing someone. These verbs do not use -ing. Use the Present Perfect:

Thinking
  • know · believe · understand
Wanting
  • want · need
Feeling
  • love · hate · like
Having
  • own · have (a thing)
✗ I have been knowing her for years. → ✓ I have known her for years.
✗ He has been owning that shop for a decade. → ✓ He has owned that shop for a decade.
✗ We have been needing help since Monday. → ✓ We have needed help since Monday.
4 Activity or Result
Continuous or Simple?

Both tenses can use for and since. The meaning is different:

Present Perfect ContinuousPresent Perfect
The activity. It may still be happening.The result or the number. It is finished.
I have been reading that book for a week. (I am still reading.)I have read that book. (I finished it.)
She has been writing a novel for two years. (She is still writing.)She has written three novels. (This is the number.)

Test: can you answer How many? with a number? Then use the Present Perfect.

5 How Long
The Question: How Long?

Ask about an activity with How long have/has + subject + been + verb-ing?

How long have you been waiting? — "I've been waiting for forty minutes."
How long has she been working at the bank? — "Since 2018."
How long have they been fixing up the house? — "For about three months."
How long has it been raining? — "Since early this morning."
How long have you been studying English? — "For about four years."
6 Common Mistakes
Watch Out For These
❌ Mistake 1 — Present Simple instead of the Present Perfect Continuous
✗ He plays tennis for five years.
✗ She studies here since March.
✗ How long do you drive that truck?
✓ He has been playing tennis for five years.
✓ She has been studying here since March.
✓ How long have you been driving that truck?
The Present Simple cannot show an activity from the past until now. Use have/has been + verb-ing.
❌ Mistake 2 — Forgetting BEEN
✗ I have traveling for six months.
✗ She has climbing that mountain since dawn.
✗ How long have you carrying that box?
✓ I have been traveling for six months.
✓ She has been climbing that mountain since dawn.
✓ How long have you been carrying that box?
This tense has three parts: have/has + been + verb-ing. You need all three.
❌ Mistake 3 — A state verb with -ING
✗ He has been loving his new job since May.
✗ They have been hating the noise all week.
✗ I have been liking this song since I heard it.
✓ He has loved his new job since May.
✓ They have hated the noise all week.
✓ I have liked this song since I heard it.
State verbs describe a condition, not an action. They do not use -ing. Use the Present Perfect.
❌ Mistake 4 — The Continuous with a number or a finished result
✗ She has been writing three novels since she retired.
✗ He has been fixing five cars this week.
✓ She has written three novels since she retired.
✓ He has fixed five cars this week.
A number shows a finished result. Use the Present Perfect. The Continuous shows the activity, so it does not count things.
7 Practice
Try It Yourself
Exercise A — Action or Condition?

Is the verb an action (it can use has been + -ing) or a condition (a state verb)? Click your answer.

  • 1
    They have been building a bridge here for two years.
    ✓ Correct — "build" is an action.
  • 2
    She has understood the topic since the first class.
    ✓ Correct — "understand" is a condition.
  • 3
    He has owned that bakery since 2015.
    ✓ Correct — "own" is a condition.
  • 4
    We have been talking about the plan since this morning.
    ✓ Correct — "talk" is an action.
  • 5
    Kate has been looking for her dog since noon.
    ✓ Correct — "look for" is an action.
  • 6
    Mia has needed a new laptop for months.
    ✓ Correct — "need" is a condition.
  • 7
    The kids have been playing outside since lunch.
    ✓ Correct — "play" is an action.
  • 8
    He has believed that story for years.
    ✓ Correct — "believe" is a condition.
Exercise B — Build the Verb

Type the correct Present Perfect Continuous form of the verb given. Write the full form: has been or have been.

  • 1
    He around the park since sunrise. (run)
  • 2
    We the trip for weeks. (consider)
  • 3
    She since early afternoon. (cook)
  • 4
    They about the schedule for an hour. (argue)
  • 5
    I this room since Saturday. (clean)
  • 6
    The baby for two hours. (sleep)
  • 7
    Lena for the exam since Monday. (study)
  • 8
    The sun all day. (shine)
Exercise C — Correct or Incorrect?

Click your answer for each sentence.

  • 1
    I have been wanting a dog for years.
    ✓ Correct — This sentence is wrong. "Want" is a state verb: "I have wanted a dog for years."
  • 2
    Ana has been driving since seven this morning.
    ✓ Correct — the form and the activity both fit.
  • 3
    He learns French for six months.
    ✓ Correct — This sentence is wrong. It needs the Continuous: "He has been learning French for six months."
  • 4
    They have been loving this house since they moved in.
    ✓ Correct — This sentence is wrong. "Love" is a state verb: "They have loved this house since they moved in."
  • 5
    How long have they been living here?
    ✓ Correct — the question is correctly built.
  • 6
    He has walking to work since his car broke down.
    ✓ Correct — This sentence is wrong. It is missing "been": "He has been walking to work."
  • 7
    She has repaired three cars this week.
    ✓ Correct — "three cars" is a number, so the Present Perfect is right.
  • 8
    I have been watching the neighbor's cat since Monday.
    ✓ Correct — the form and the activity both fit.
Exercise D — How Long Questions

Type the missing words. Use have/has + subject + been + verb-ing.

  • 9
    How long here? (she / work)
  • 10
    How long for that bus? (you / wait)
  • 11
    How long in that apartment? (they / live)
  • 12
    How long ? (he / sleep)
  • 13
    How long ? (we / drive)
  • 14
    How long ? (the sun / shine)
  • 15
    How long the guitar? (he / practice)
  • 16
    How long the movie? (they / watch)
8 Choose the Right Sentence
Apply What You Know

Read each question. Choose the sentence that matches.

Question 1 of 8
Select the correct sentence.
Question 2 of 8
Select the sentence that is missing BEEN.
Question 3 of 8
Select the sentence that uses a state verb with -ING.
Question 4 of 8
Select the correct question.
Question 5 of 8
Select the sentence that needs the Present Perfect, not the Continuous, because of a number.
Question 6 of 8
Select the correct sentence.
Question 7 of 8
Select the correct sentence.
Question 8 of 8
Select the correct sentence with a state verb.
9 Summary
Present Perfect Continuous: With FOR and SINCE Use this tense for an activity that started in the past and is still happening. It shows the activity, not just the fact.
  • Structure: have/has + been + verb-ing + for/since + time. All three parts are needed.
  • For + a length of time. Since + a starting time. Ask How long have you been...?
  • State verbs (know, want, believe, love, hate, need, understand, own) do not use -ing. Use the Present Perfect.
  • A number or a finished result needs the Present Perfect, not the Continuous.
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