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English grammar

Present Perfect Continuous (have been -ing)

Updated 27 Oct 2026 4 min read LingoLadder Editorial Team
Cover: Present perfect continuous — I have been waiting for an hour; it has been raining.
Short answer

Use have / has been + the -ing form to talk about an activity that started in the past and is still going on, or has just stopped and has a visible result now: 'I have been waiting for an hour', 'It has been raining'.

On this page11 sections · tap to jump
  1. 01The rule
  2. 02Forms
  3. 03How to say it
  4. 04Example sentences
  5. 05Common mistakes
  6. 06A short conversation
  7. 07Usage notes
  8. 08Compared with…
  9. 09Practice
  10. 10Quiz
  11. 11Recap cheat-sheet

Level: B1. The present perfect continuous links a past activity to now. It focuses on the activity itself and how long it has been going on, not on a finished result.

The rule

The present perfect continuous is have / has + been + the -ing form of the verb. Use have with I / you / we / they and has with he / she / it. The -ing form is the present participle: work → working, study → studying, rain → raining.

It has two main jobs. First, for an activity that started in the past and is still happening now, often with for or since: “I have been waiting for an hour” (I am still waiting). Second, for an activity that has just stopped but whose result you can see now: “You’re out of breath — have you been running?”

Use for with a length of time (for two hours, for years) and since with the point when the activity began (since 9 o’clock, since Monday, since I arrived).

Forms

Subject have / has been + -ing Example
I / you / we / they have (’ve) been working I have (I’ve) been working all day.
he / she / it has (’s) been raining It has (It’s) been raining since noon.
negative have / has + not been sleeping He hasn’t been sleeping well.
question Have / Has + subject been waiting Have you been waiting long?

How to say it

  • I’ve, you’ve, we’ve, they’ve and he’s, she’s, it’s are the normal spoken contractions; here he’s = he has, not he is (the word been tells you which).
  • been is usually said with a short vowel in everyday speech (like “bin”), not a long “ee”.
  • In have been, the v often links smoothly into been: say it as one piece, “I’ve-been”.
  • haven’t sounds like “hav-nt”; hasn’t like “haz-nt”.

Example sentences

  1. I have been waiting for an hour.
    The activity started an hour ago and still continues now.
  2. It has been raining since this morning.
    since + a starting point; the rain goes on now.
  3. She has been studying English for three years.
    for + a length of time; still studying.
  4. We've been living here since 2020.
    A situation that began in the past and continues.
  5. They have been working on the project all week.
    An ongoing activity over a period up to now.
  6. He has been feeling tired lately.
    A recent, continuing state over recent days.
  7. You're wet — have you been swimming?
    A recent activity; the wet clothes are the result now.
  8. I'm sorry I'm late; I've been looking for a parking space.
    Just-finished activity explaining the present situation.
  9. How long have you been learning the guitar?
    A question asking about duration up to now.
  10. My eyes hurt because I've been reading all day.
    The activity causes a result you feel now.
  11. The children have been playing outside since lunch.
    Activity continuing from a past point to now.
  12. She hasn't been sleeping well this week.
    Negative; a continuing problem up to now.
  13. We have been trying to call you all morning.
    Repeated effort across a period up to now.
  14. Has it been snowing again?
    A question about a recent, possibly just-finished activity.
  15. I've been meaning to write to you.
    An intention building up over recent time.
  16. They've been arguing a lot recently.
    A pattern of activity continuing into the present.
  17. He has been working here since he left school.
    since + a past event marks the starting point.
  18. Why are you out of breath? Have you been running?
    Visible result now from a just-finished activity.
  19. I haven't been eating much lately.
    A continuing habit up to the present, in the negative.
  20. We've been waiting for the bus for twenty minutes.
    for + duration; the waiting is still happening.
  21. She's been coughing all night.
    Repeated activity across a period right up to now.
  22. How long has your brother been living abroad?
    Asking about the length of an ongoing situation.

Common mistakes

  • ❌ I am waiting for an hour. → ✅ I have been waiting for an hour. For an activity that started in the past and continues, use the present perfect continuous, not the present continuous.
  • ❌ I have been knowing her for years. → ✅ I have known her for years. Know is stative; use the present perfect simple, not the continuous.
  • ❌ She has been study English for three years. → ✅ She has been studying English for three years. After been, use the -ing form (studying).
  • ❌ We have been living here since five years. → ✅ We have been living here for five years. Use for with a length of time; since needs a starting point (since 2020).
  • ❌ How long you have been waiting? → ✅ How long have you been waiting? In questions, put have/has before the subject.
  • ❌ He has been working here since he has left school. → ✅ He has been working here since he left school. After since, the point in time uses the past simple (left), not another perfect.

A short conversation

A: You look exhausted. Have you been working late again? B: Yes, I’ve been preparing for the exam all week. A: How long have you been studying today? B: Since eight this morning. I haven’t been sleeping much.

Usage notes

  • for vs since. For measures the length (for ten minutes, for ages); since marks the start (since Tuesday, since I woke up). After since, a time clause takes the past simple: “since I arrived”.
  • Temporary, not permanent. The present perfect continuous often suggests something temporary or recent: “I’ve been staying with friends” (for now) feels more temporary than “I’ve lived here for years”.
  • The result you can see. Use it to explain a present situation from a just-finished activity: wet hair, being out of breath, a messy kitchen. The activity may have stopped seconds ago.
  • Questions and short answers. Ask “Have you been waiting long?” Answer short: “Yes, I have.” / “No, I haven’t.”
  • Contractions. ’ve / ’s (= have/has) and haven’t / hasn’t are normal in speech and informal writing.

Compared with…

  • Present perfect simple (have done) looks at a completed result, a number, or an experience, while the continuous (have been doing) looks at the activity and its duration. Compare “I’ve written three emails” (result, how many — finished) with “I’ve been writing emails all morning” (activity, how long). For the full contrast, see Present Perfect: Simple vs Continuous.
  • Present perfect vs past simple decides between an open, up-to-now time and a finished, dated time: “I’ve been reading it” (still relevant now) vs “I read it last year” (finished, with a date). See Present Perfect vs Past Simple.

Recap card for the English present-perfect-continuous lesson showing have or has been plus the -ing form with for and since

Quick recap before you practise.

Practice

Practice

Present perfect continuous practice

Try each one, then press Check. No sign-up, nothing is sent anywhere — it all runs in your browser.

1 Choose the correct sentence for an activity that started an hour ago and still continues.
Show answer

I have been waiting for an hour. — An activity from the past that continues now uses have/has been + -ing.

Hint: a length of time

Show answer

for — Use for with a length of time; since needs a starting point.

Hint: a starting point

Show answer

since — Use since with the point when the activity began.

4 Put the words in order to make a correct sentence.

Show answer

Have you been waiting long? — Questions put Have/Has before the subject, then been + -ing.

5 Match the base verb to its -ing form used after been.

  • run
  • study
  • lie
  • travel
Show answer
  • run → running
  • study → studying
  • lie → lying
  • travel → travelling

These are the present participles that follow been.

6 Which sentence is correct?
Show answer

I have known her for years. — Know is stative, so use the present perfect simple, not the continuous.

Quiz

Check yourself

Present perfect continuous quiz

12 questions · pick an answer and you'll see straight away if it's right.

0/12 0 answered
  1. 1Complete: 'I ___ for the bus for twenty minutes.' (still waiting)
    Show answer

    have been waiting — A past activity continuing to now uses have been + -ing.

  2. 2Choose the correct form: 'She ___ English for three years.'
    Show answer

    has been studying — Use has with she, then been + the -ing form studying.

  3. 3Complete with the right word: 'It has been raining ___ this morning.'
    Show answer

    since — Since marks the starting point of the activity.

  4. 4Complete with the right word: 'We've been living here ___ five years.'
    Show answer

    for — For is used with a length of time.

  5. 5Which sentence is WRONG?
    Show answer

    I have been knowing him for years. — Know is a stative verb and is not used in the continuous.

  6. 6You see someone out of breath. Which question fits?
    Show answer

    Have you been running? — A just-finished activity with a visible result now takes the present perfect continuous.

  7. 7Make a question: 'How long ___ you been learning the guitar?'
    Show answer

    have — Use have with you; the subject comes after have.

  8. 8Complete the negative: 'He ___ well this week.' (sleep)
    Show answer

    hasn't been sleeping — Use hasn't with he, then been + sleeping.

  9. 9After 'been', which form is correct?
    Show answer

    working — Been is always followed by the -ing form.

  10. Show answer

    for — Hours is a length of time, so use for.

  11. 11Which use is right for 'I've been reading all day, so my eyes hurt'?
    Show answer

    an activity whose result you feel now — The ongoing activity explains the present result (sore eyes).

  12. 12Choose the correct sentence.
    Show answer

    How long have you been waiting? — In questions, have/has goes before the subject.

Recap cheat-sheet

Feature Form / example Note
form have/has + been + -ing I’ve been working, she has been reading
use 1 started in past, still going I have been waiting for an hour.
use 2 just stopped, result now You’re wet — have you been swimming?
for / since for + length, since + start for two hours / since Monday
stative verbs use the simple form I have known her for years.

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Grammar path

125 topics 125 ready now
A1 30 topics · 30 ready
  1. 01 Verb 'To Be' in the Present (am, is, are)
  2. 02 Subject Pronouns: I, You, He, She, It, We, They
  3. 03 Present Simple: Affirmative and the -s Ending
  4. 04 Present Simple: Negatives and Questions (do/does)
  5. 05 Articles: a / an and When to Use Each
  6. 06 The Definite Article 'The': When to Use It
  7. 07 Zero Article: When to Use No Article
  8. 08 Plural Nouns: Regular and Irregular Forms
  9. 09 This, That, These, Those (Demonstratives)
  10. 10 Possessive Adjectives: my, your, his, her
  11. 11 Possessive 's and s' (Showing Belonging)
  12. 12 There Is / There Are (Saying What Exists)
  13. 13 Have Got: Talking About Possession
  14. 14 Can and Can't for Ability
  15. 15 Present Continuous (am/is/are + -ing)
  16. 16 Imperatives: Giving Orders and Instructions
  17. 17 Adjectives: Position and Basic Use
  18. 18 Prepositions of Place: in, on, at
  19. 19 Prepositions of Time: in, on, at
  20. 20 Question Words: What, Where, When, Who, Why, How
  21. 21 How Much vs How Many
  22. 22 Countable and Uncountable Nouns
  23. 23 Some and Any: Which One to Use
  24. 24 Object Pronouns: me, you, him, her, us, them
  25. 25 Adverbs of Frequency and Their Position
  26. 26 Like, Love, Hate + -ing (Expressing Preferences)
  27. 27 Would Like: Polite Wants and Offers
  28. 28 Making Requests: Can, Could, May I
  29. 29 Past Simple of 'To Be' (was / were)
  30. 30 Let's and Shall We: Making Suggestions
A2 25 topics · 25 ready
  1. 31 Past Simple: Regular Verbs and -ed Spelling
  2. 32 Past Simple: Irregular Verbs (go, see, have)
  3. 33 Past Simple: Negatives and Questions (did)
  4. 34 Comparative Adjectives (bigger, more expensive)
  5. 35 Superlative Adjectives (the biggest, the most)
  6. 36 Going To: Plans and Predictions
  7. 37 Will: Predictions, Decisions and Offers
  8. 38 Present Continuous for Future Arrangements
  9. 39 Present Perfect for Experience (ever / never)
  10. 40 Present Perfect with just, already, yet
  11. 41 Present Perfect vs Past Simple
  12. 42 Have To and Don't Have To (Obligation)
  13. 43 Should and Shouldn't for Advice
  14. 44 Could: Past Ability and Polite Use
  15. 45 Much, Many, A Lot Of
  16. 46 A Few, A Little, Few, Little
  17. 47 Adverbs of Manner (quickly, well, hard)
  18. 48 Verb + -ing or Verb + to (Introduction)
  19. 49 Zero Conditional (Facts and Rules)
  20. 50 First Conditional (Real Future Possibility)
  21. 51 Prepositions of Movement (to, into, through)
  22. 52 Possessive Pronouns: mine, yours, hers
  23. 53 Past Continuous (was/were + -ing)
  24. 54 Too and Enough (Degree)
  25. 55 Order of Adjectives Before a Noun
B1 27 topics · 27 ready
  1. 56 Past Continuous vs Past Simple
  2. 57 Used To and Would for Past Habits
  3. 58 Present Perfect Continuous (have been -ing) You are here
  4. 59 Present Perfect: Simple vs Continuous
  5. 60 Past Perfect (had + past participle)
  6. 61 Second Conditional (Unreal Present/Future)
  7. 62 Third Conditional (Unreal Past)
  8. 63 Reported Speech: Statements (Backshift)
  9. 64 Reported Questions
  10. 65 Reported Commands and Requests
  11. 66 Passive Voice: Present and Past Simple
  12. 67 Must and Mustn't (Strong Obligation)
  13. 68 May, Might, Could for Possibility
  14. 69 Defining Relative Clauses (who, which, that)
  15. 70 Non-Defining Relative Clauses (with commas)
  16. 71 Gerunds and Infinitives: Full Verb Patterns
  17. 72 Verbs Where -ing vs to Changes Meaning
  18. 73 Future Continuous (will be -ing)
  19. 74 So and Such (Emphasis)
  20. 75 As...As Comparisons (equality)
  21. 76 Question Tags (isn't it? do you?)
  22. 77 Phrasal Verbs: Separable and Inseparable
  23. 78 Linking Words: because, so, although, but
  24. 79 Infinitive of Purpose (to / in order to)
  25. 80 Indirect Questions (Can you tell me...)
  26. 81 Make, Let, Allow, Help (Causatives Intro)
  27. 82 Be Used To and Get Used To (+ -ing)
B2 25 topics · 25 ready
  1. 83 Narrative Tenses for Storytelling
  2. 84 Past Perfect Continuous (had been -ing)
  3. 85 Mixed Conditionals
  4. 86 Wish and If Only (Regrets and Wishes)
  5. 87 Wish/If Only + would (Complaints)
  6. 88 Passive Voice: All Tenses and Modals
  7. 89 Reporting Passive (It is said that / is said to)
  8. 90 Causative: Have/Get Something Done
  9. 91 Reduced Relative Clauses (Participles)
  10. 92 Modals of Deduction: Present and Past
  11. 93 Needn't Have vs Didn't Need To
  12. 94 Future Perfect (will have done)
  13. 95 Participle Clauses (-ing / -ed / having done)
  14. 96 Advanced Comparatives (far/much + er, the more)
  15. 97 Conditional Alternatives: unless, as long as, provided
  16. 98 Advanced Determiners: each, every, either, neither
  17. 99 Intensifiers and Adverbs of Degree
  18. 100 Advanced Contrast: despite, in spite of, however
  19. 101 Advanced Linkers: therefore, moreover, consequently
  20. 102 Advanced Article Use (generalisations, names)
  21. 103 Verb + Preposition and Adjective + Preposition
  22. 104 Relative Clauses: whose, where, when, quantifier + whom
  23. 105 Subject-Verb Agreement: Tricky Cases
  24. 106 Emphatic Do (I do like it)
  25. 107 Would for Past Habits (Formal Narrative)
C1 18 topics · 18 ready
  1. 108 Inversion with Negative Adverbials
  2. 109 Inversion in Conditionals (Had I known)
  3. 110 Cleft Sentences (It was... / What I need is...)
  4. 111 Fronting and Emphasis (Word Order)
  5. 112 Subjunctive and Mandative (I suggest he be)
  6. 113 Ellipsis and Substitution (so, do, one)
  7. 114 Hedging and Cautious Language
  8. 115 Nominalisation (Academic Noun Style)
  9. 116 Advanced Discourse Markers (Spoken & Written)
  10. 117 Advanced Passive (passive + infinitive, get-passive)
  11. 118 Advanced Comparative Structures (no sooner...than)
  12. 119 Future in the Past (was going to / would)
  13. 120 Advanced Modals (may well, might as well, would rather)
  14. 121 Advanced Reported Speech (Reporting Verbs + Patterns)
  15. 122 Advanced and Idiomatic Phrasal Verbs
  16. 123 Collocation and Colligation (Natural Combinations)
  17. 124 Advanced Concession (much as, whatever, however + adj)
  18. 125 Absolute and Non-Finite Clauses (Formal)