Lesson 20 of 46

Present perfect continuous

Say how long something has been happening.

The rules

1.Form: have/has + been + verb-ing. Use it for an activity that started in the past and continues now or just stopped.
2.Use for + a period of time (for two hours) and since + a starting point (since Monday).
3.Use it to ask "How long…?": "How long have you been waiting?"
4.Do not use the present continuous with for/since: say "I have been waiting for two hours", not "I am waiting for two hours".

Incorrect: ~~I am waiting here since 2 hours.~~

Correct: I have been waiting here for 2 hours.

Duration to now needs the perfect continuous.

Incorrect: ~~She is working here from 2019.~~

Correct: She has been working here since 2019.

"Since" + starting point.

Incorrect: ~~How long do you learn English?~~

Correct: How long have you been learning English?

Use the perfect continuous.

Watch out: For = how long. Since = when it started.

1. I ___ for this company since 2021.

2. He has been studying ___ three hours.

3. She has been living here ___ March.

Paste any text and see exactly what to fix, with the rule explained.