Ampersand Lab

Intermediate grammar · Lesson 9 · B1

Present perfect continuous (I have been doing)

Use have/has been + -ing for an activity that has recently stopped and left evidence behind, and for an activity that started in the past and is still going on, especially with how long, for and since.

Start the lesson

10Steps · about 19 minutes

In this lesson

It's been raining: an activity that has just stoppedA2 screens of questions
It's been raining for two hours: an activity still going onB1 screen of questions
Compare: I am doing and I have been doingC2 screens of questions

Point A of 3

It's been raining: an activity that has just stopped

Is it raining? No, but the road is shiny and the gutters are overflowing.

It's been raining. (= It has been raining.)

The form is have/has been + -ing:

Subject have / has been -ing
I / we / you / they have ('ve) been doing, working, learning
he / she / it has ('s) been doing, working, learning

It suits an activity that has just ended or ended a short while ago. Usually something is left to show for it: a wet road, aching legs, a sink full of dishes.

  • Why are you so red in the face? Have you been running?
  • Lauren is exhausted. She's been working nights all week.
  • Why is your hair wet? What have you been doing?
  • I've been speaking to the landlord, and he says he'll fix the window.
  • There you are! I've been looking for you.

Point A · Exercise 9.1

What have these people been doing, or what has been happening? Each scene describes earlier and now.

  1. Example

    Earlier: rain was pouring down. Now: the sky is clear, but there are puddles all over the pavement.

    It's been raining.

    AnswerIt's been raining.

  2. Earlier: a woman was jogging round the park. Now: she is sitting on a bench, red in the face and out of breath.

    She .

  3. Earlier: two men were digging a vegetable patch. Now: they are leaning on their spades, covered in mud.

    They .

  4. Earlier: a man was painting a fence. Now: he is having a cup of tea, and there is paint all over his hands and his jeans.

    He .

Point A · Exercise 9.2

Write a question for each situation, using the words in brackets.

  1. Example

    You meet Leon as he is coming out of the gym. You say: Hi, Leon. (you / train?)

    Have you been training?

    AnswerHi, Leon. Have you been training?

  2. You arrive twenty minutes late to meet Aisha outside the cinema. You say: Sorry I'm late, Aisha. (you / wait / long?)

  3. Your daughter comes in from the garden with mud on her face, her hands and somehow her ears. You say: Why are you so muddy? (what / you / do?)

  4. You go into a bakery and see your old friend Paddy behind the counter. You didn't know he worked there. You say: Hi, Paddy. (how long / you / work / here?)

  5. A friend tells you that he teaches the guitar in the evenings. You say: You teach the guitar? (how long / you / do / that?)

Point B of 3

It's been raining for two hours: an activity still going on

The snow began two hours ago and it hasn't stopped.

How long has it been snowing? It's been snowing for two hours.

You will meet it most often with how long, for and since. The activity may still be in progress, or may have only just ended.

It also describes an action repeated again and again across a period up to now.

  • How long have you been learning to drive? (= you are still learning)
  • Nathan is on the sofa. He's been watching football all afternoon.
  • Where have you been? I've been waiting for you for the last forty minutes.
  • My nan hasn't been sleeping well recently.
  • Alys is a very good swimmer. She's been swimming since she was six.
  • Every Friday they meet in the same pub. They've been going there for years.

Point B · Exercise 9.3

Read the situations and complete the sentences, using the words in brackets.

  1. Example

    It's snowing. The snow started three hours ago. (It ... for three hours.)

    It's been snowing for three hours.

    AnswerIt's been snowing for three hours.

  2. We're queueing for tickets. We joined the queue forty minutes ago. (We ... for forty minutes.)

  3. I'm learning the guitar. I started lessons in September. (I ... since September.)

  4. Ryan is working at the garage on the High Street. He started there on 3 March. (... since 3 March.)

  5. My parents always go to Wales at Easter. The first time was decades ago. (... for decades.)

Point C of 3

Compare: I am doing and I have been doing

Present continuous (am/is/are + -ing): happening now Present perfect continuous (have/has been + -ing): up to now
Please be quiet. I'm working. I've been working all morning. Now I'm going to have a break.
Take a coat. It's raining. The ground is wet. It's been raining.
Come on! We're waiting. We've been waiting for half an hour.
  • Please be quiet. I'm working.
  • I've been working all morning. Now I'm going to have a break.
  • Take a coat. It's raining.
  • The lawn is soggy. It's been raining.

Point C · Exercise 9.4 · part 1 of 2

Put the verb into the present continuous (am/is/are + -ing) or the present perfect continuous (have/has been + -ing).

  1. Example

    Dominic has been playing (Dominic / play) the drums for six years.

    AnswerDominic has been playing the drums for six years.

  2. Hiya, Fran. (I / try) to ring you all morning. Is your phone off?

  3. Why (you / laugh)? What's so funny?

  4. Mr Ahmed is a driving instructor. (he / teach) people to drive for twenty years.

  5. (I / think) about your offer, and I've decided to accept it.

Point C · Exercise 9.4 · part 2 of 2

Put the verb into the present continuous (am/is/are + -ing) or the present perfect continuous (have/has been + -ing).

  1. "Is Carla off sick today?" "No, (she / work) from home."

  2. Pete looks exhausted. (he / train) for a marathon recently.

  3. You shouldn't eat while (you / drive).

  4. Our neighbours (build) an extension for the last six months.

Lesson 9 · Result

How you did

Next lesson: Present perfect continuous and simple (I have been doing and I have done)Back to the course

–Right

Each point

A. It's been raining: an activity that has just stopped–Not checkedB. It's been raining for two hours: an activity still going on–Not checkedC. Compare: I am doing and I have been doing–Not checked