Page 30 - English Grammar in Use

Unit
9 Present perfect continuous (I have been doing)

A It’s been raining.
Study this example situation:

Is it raining?
No, but the ground is wet.
It’s been raining. (= It has been …)
have/has been + -ing is the present perfect continuous:

doing
I/we/they/you have (= I’ve etc.)
he/she/it has (= he’s etc.) been working
learning etc.

We use the present perfect continuous for an activity that has recently stopped or just stopped:
Why are you out of breath? Have you been running?
Paul is very tired. He’s been working hard. have/has been + -ing
Why are you so tired? What have you been doing? present perfect continuous
I’ve been talking to Amanda and she agrees with me.
Where have you been? I’ve been looking for you. now

B It’s been raining for two hours.
Study this example situation:

It began raining two hours ago and it is still raining.
How long has it been raining?
It’s been raining for two hours. (= It has been …)
We use the present perfect continuous in this way, especially
with how long, for … and since … . The activity is still
happening (as in this example) or has just stopped.

How long have you been learning English? (= you’re still learning English)
Ben is watching TV. He’s been watching TV all day.
Where have you been? I’ve been looking for you for the last half hour.
Chris hasn’t been feeling well recently.
You can use the present perfect continuous for repeated actions:
Silvia is a very good tennis player. She’s been playing since she was eight.
Every morning they meet in the same cafe. They’ve been going there for years.

C Compare I am doing and I have been doing:

I am doing I have been doing
present continuous present perfect continuous

now now
Don’t disturb me now. I’m working. I’ve been working hard. Now I’m going
to have a break.
We need an umbrella. It’s raining. The ground is wet. It’s been raining.
Hurry up! We’re waiting. We’ve been waiting for an hour.

18 Present perfect continuous and simple ➜ Units 10–11 Present perfect + for/since ➜ Units 11–12