Present perfect continuous (have/has been + -ing)

Rules

• Rule 1: have / has + been + -ing

  I / you / we / they → have been; he / she / it → has been. Then the -ing form of the verb.

  Pattern: subject + have / has been + verb-ing

  Example: We've been playing for two hours.

  Example: It's been snowing all night.

• Rule 2: Visible results

  We also use it for an activity that has just stopped when we can see the result now.

  Example: Your hands are dirty. Have you been gardening?

  Example: I'm hot because I've been running.

• Rule 3: Simple or continuous?

  Continuous → the activity and its duration (how long). Simple → the result and quantity (how many).

  Example: I've been painting all morning.

  Example: I've painted two pictures.

• Rule 4: State verbs don't use -ing

  Verbs like know, like, love, have (own), believe, understand aren't normally used in the continuous with these meanings; use the present perfect simple.

  Example: I've known Deniz since kindergarten.

  Example: We've had this car for years.

Common mistakes

• I am waiting for an hour. → I have been waiting for an hour.

  Duration up to now → present perfect continuous.

• It is raining since Monday. → It has been raining since Monday.

  We don't use the present continuous with since.

• She has been knowing him for years. → She has known him for years.

  know is a state verb: no -ing.