Writing with Tenses / Present Perfect Continuous
LESSON 83 OF 261 · 7 MIN READ

Present Perfect Continuous — Uses and Common Mistakes

Use the tense in a clear context and avoid common errors.

Major uses

Continuing activity: I have been learning English for two months.
Recent evidence: The ground is wet. It has been raining.
Repeated recent activity: She has been practising football lately.
State verbs such as know normally use the perfect simple: I have known her for years.

Common time expressions

since Monday, for three weeks, all morning, all day, recently, lately

Common mistakes

She has studying. → She has been studying.
I have been study. → I have been studying.

Grammar trick

Have/has + BEEN + an -ing activity. For measures time; since names the start.

Read a connected example

Rahul has been preparing for his examination for three weeks. He has been reading his notes every day. He has been solving problems since Monday. He has been attending revision classes.

TRY IT YOURSELF

A quick check

A wrong answer is a chance to learn. Use the hint and try again.