Present Perfect Continuous Tense Notes

1. We form the Present Perfect Continuous like this: have/has been + verb + -ing

2. We use the Present Perfect Continuous to talk about a continuous action which started in the past and is still continuing:

It has been raining for four hours. [It is still raining.]

It has been raining since morning. [It is still raining.]

She's been waiting for the bus for twenty minutes. (She is still waiting.)

She's been waiting for Namrata since 5 o’clock. (She is still waiting.)

Or we use it to give information about a long continuous action that has just stopped:

It's been raining. [It's just stopped:]

She's been playing chess. (She's just stopped.)

We often make questions which begin with How long...?

1. How long have you been staying at this hotel?

For 3 days.

2. How long has she been watching T.V?

Since 4 o’clock.

3. How long has he been living in Ahmedabad?

Since 2001