Using the present perfect continuous
(also called the present perfect progressive)
Some people think the present perfect continuous is difficult to use, but really it's not very complicated, and it sounds very impressive when you use it correctly.
There are two main times we use this tense. Remember we can't use it with stative verbs.
1: To say how long for unfinished actions which started in the past and continue to the present. We often use this with for and since. (See the present perfect for the same use with stative verbs)
- I've been living in London for two years.
- She's been working here since 2004.
- We've been waiting for the bus for hours.
2: Actions which have just stopped (though the whole action can be unfinished) and have a result, which we can often see, hear, or feel, in the present (focus on action). (See the present perfect for a similar use which focuses on the result of the action)
- I'm so tired, I've been studying.
- I've been running, so I'm really hot.
- It's been raining, the pavement is wet.
- I've been reading your book, it's very good.
