THE FOCUS IS ON THE

PROCESS, AS WELL AS THE FORM:

RESULT AUXILIARY VERB “TO HAVE” +
SOMETIMES WE CAN USE BEEN + ING FORM OF THE VERB
EITHER FORM AND THE
MEANING IS THE SAME:
I have been reading
You have been reading
He/She/It has been reading
I’ve lived here for 20 years. We have been reading
I’ve been living here for 20 You have been reading
years. They have been reading

PRESENT PERFECT
PRESENT ACTIONS THAT START IN
THE PAST AND CONTINUE
SIMPLE -THE PERFECT TO THE PRESENT
COMPLETION OF AN
EVENT
CONTINUOUS I’ve been watching Game of
PRESENT PERFECT Thrones.
CONTINUOUS -ONGOING
EVENTS
TO EMPHASISE THE
I’ve written the Politics DURATION OR ’HOW LONG’
essay. -Completed event (WITH FOR AND SINCE)
I’ve been writing the
Politics essay. -Ongoing RECENTLY FINISHED Henry has been playing the violin
ACTIONS, WITH PRESENT since he was eight.
activity: I’m still writing it.
RESULTS

Why have you been crying?

(there are tears in her eyes). It’s
been raining (the ground is wet).