The present perfect progressive (have been + ing) emphasizes that an action has continued from the past to the present. Although it was introduced in middle school, in high school we learn in greater detail how to distinguish it from the continuing use of the present perfect.
Basic Rules
Present perfect progressive have/has been + verb-ing emphasizes the continuation of an action.
- Action verbs (study / work / wait / play / read / run / talk, etc.) → the present perfect progressive is natural
- Stative verbs (live / know / like / want / believe / have, etc.) → the present perfect, not the progressive, is natural
However, both forms can be used with live: “I have lived here for 5 years.” and “I have been living here for 5 years.” The subtle difference is that the latter more strongly suggests “I still live here, and it may continue in the future.”
Past perfect progressive had been + ing: emphasizes that an action continued up to a certain point in the past “I had been waiting for an hour when she finally arrived. (I had been waiting for an hour when she finally arrived.)”
Future perfect progressive will have been + ing: emphasizes that an action will continue up to a certain point in the future “By next year, I will have been studying English for 10 years.”
I have been studying for three hours. (I have been studying for three hours.) ← continuation of an action
It has been raining since this morning. (It has been raining since this morning.)
She had been working at the company for 10 years before she resigned. (She had been working there for 10 years before she resigned.) ← past perfect progressive
By next month, I will have been living in Japan for 5 years. ← future perfect progressive
Points to Note
① Stative verbs are not used in the progressive: × I have been knowing him → ○ I have known him. The same applies to like / want / believe.
② Distinguishing the perfect and perfect progressive:
- Perfect: “I have read three books this month. (I have finished reading three books = focus on the result)”
- Perfect progressive: “I have been reading this book for two hours. (I have continued reading for two hours = focus on the continuing action)”
③ The nuance of “until recently” or “just now” in the perfect progressive: “You look tired. Have you been working? (You look tired. Have you been working?)” implies that the action continued until just before.
④ Tense in a since clause: both “since I came here (past tense)” and “since I have been here (present perfect)” are possible. The past tense is usual after since, but the present perfect is also used when showing continuation of a state.
⑤ The question pattern “How long have you been -ing?” is common in conversation. “How long have you been waiting?” and “How long have you been studying English?”
- have been + ing: emphasizes continuation of an action
- Stative verbs are not used in the perfect progressive
- The perfect focuses on results and experience; the perfect progressive focuses on continuing action
- Past perfect progressive had been + ing, future perfect progressive will have been + ing
- How long have you been -ing? is frequently used
Practice
- Translate “She has been practicing the piano for two hours” using the perfect progressive.
- Translate “I had been working at the company for 30 years before I retired” using the past perfect progressive.
- Correct the error: I have been knowing him for ten years.