* Present perfect

continuous
(compared with the simple)
*How to make the present
perfect continuous

have / has + been + - ing form

verb BE in present perfect

 *When to use it? (1)
We use present perfect continuous when we focus on
activities that started in the past and are UNFINISHED
now.

Compare:

Present perfect simple:

I‘ve decorated the house. ... FINISHED but we don‘t know the time

Past simple:
I decorated the house last summer. ... FINISHED and we know the time

Present perfect continuous:

I‘ve been decorating the house. ... UNFINISHED – I started decorating
but haven‘t finished.
UNFINISHED + DURATION FINISHED
(how long)
 *When to use it? (2)
We use present perfect continuous when we focus on
activities that happened in the past and are FINISHED
but we can see the result now.
 *More examples
Actions that started in the past and continue in the present

She has been waiting for you all day (= and she's still waiting now).

I've been working on this report since eight o'clock this morning (= and I still
haven't finished it).

They have been travelling since last October (= and they're not home yet).

Actions that have just finished, but we are interested in the results

She has been cooking since last night (= and the food on the table looks
delicious).

You are covered in mud. Have you been working in the garden?

A: You look tired. ≈ B: Yes, I have been walking all morning.

Similar but different
Present perfect Present perfect
simple continuous

* I’ve seen lots of concerts. * I have been going to

* I haven’t eaten anything concerts for years.
yet. * I’ve been writing emails all
* used with stative verbs as day.
well as action verbs * only used with action verbs

* I have read the book twice. * I have been reading the

book for 2 hours.
* to say how often the
activity has happened * to say how long the activity
has been in progress
Choose simple or continuous
Decide if you need to use the present perfect simple or continuous.

1. I _____ (study)  all day, but I am afraid I _____

(learn/not)  much.
2. Andrew _____ (eat)  two bars of chocolate today.
3. The boy’s clothes are dirty because he _____ (play)  in the
mud.
4. I _____ (arrive/just)  at the station.
5. We are exhausted because we _____ (do)  exercise all
morning.
6. Edward feels a bit unsteady because he _____ (cycle/not)  for
five years.
7. How long _____ (you/work)  for this company?
8. The kids _____ (finish/not)  their homework yet.
9. Niall _____ (watch)  the film seven times.
Choose simple or continuous - answers
Decide if you need to use the present perfect simple or continuous.

1. I have been studying (study)  all day, but I am afraid I haven‘t

learnt (learn/not)  much.
2. Andrew has eaten (eat)  two bars of chocolate today.
3. The boy’s clothes are dirty because he has been playing (play)  in
the mud.
4. I have just arrived (arrive/just)  at the station.
5. We are exhausted because we have been doing (do)  exercise all
morning.
6. Edward feels a bit unsteady because he hasn‘t cycled
(cycle/not)  for five years.
7. How long have you been working (you/work)  for this company?
8. The kids haven‘t finished (finish/not)  their homework yet.
9. Niall has watched (watch)  the film seven times.