Unit 9. Present Perfect Continuous (I have been doing)
(настоящее совершенное продолженное время)
It has been raining. Study this example situation:
Is it raining?
No, but the ground is wet.
It has been raining.
Have/ has been -ing is the Present Perfect Continuous:
I/ we/ they/ you
have
(= I've etc.)
been
doing
he/ she/ it
has
(= he's etc.)
playing etc.
We use the Present Perfect Continuous for an activity that has recently stopped or just stopped. There is a connection with now:
You're out of breath. Have you been running? (you're out of breath now)
Paul is very tired. He's been working very hard. (he's tired now)
Why are your clothes so dirty? What have you been doing?
I've been talking to Carol about the problem and she thinks that…
It has been raining for two hours. Study this example situation:
It is raining now. It began raining two hours ago
and it is still raining.
How long has it been raining?
It has been raining for two hours.
We often 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)
Tim is still watching television. He's been watching television all day.
Where have you been? I've been looking for you for the last half hour.
George hasn't been feeling well recently.
You can use the Present Perfect Continuous for actions repeated over a period of time:
Debbie 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.
Compare I am doing
(see Unit 1. Present Continuous) and I have been doing:
Don't disturb me now. I'm working.
We need an umbrella. It's raining.
Hurry up! We're waiting.
I've been working hard, so now now I'm going to have a rest.
The ground is wet. It's been raining.
We've been waiting for an hour.
See Unit 10. Present Perfect Continuous and Simple (I have been doing and I have done) (настоящее совершенное продолженное и настоящее совершенное времена).
See Unit 11.How long have you (been)…? (настоящее совершенное время).
See Unit 12.When…? and How long…?For and since (сравнение Past Simple и Present Perfect).