Present Perfect Continuous

Use the present perfect continuous (have/has been + -ing) for an activity that started in the past and is still going on, or that has just stopped and left a result you can see. It puts the focus on the activity and how long it has lasted.

• Form

  have/has been + verb -ing; short forms 've been and 's been.

  I've been waiting for an hour.

  She's been working on it since March.

• Negatives and questions

  haven't/hasn't been + -ing; ask about the time with How long have you been…?

  He hasn't been sleeping well.

  How long have you been learning English?

• Still going on: for and since

  for + a period of time, since + the moment it started.

  We've been living here for six years.

  It's been raining since this morning.

• A recent activity with a result you can see

  Your eyes are red. Have you been crying?

  I'm tired because I've been running.

• Activity or result?

  the continuous talks about the activity and how long; the simple talks about what is finished, or how many.

  I've been reading your book. (not finished)

  I've read three chapters. (a number)

• Not with state verbs

  know, like, want, belong, understand take the present perfect simple.

  I've known her for years.

Common mistakes

• ✗ I am waiting here for two hours.→✓ I've been waiting here for two hours.With for or since up to now, use have been + -ing, not the present continuous.
• ✗ I've been knowing him since school.→✓ I've known him since school.Know is a state verb: no -ing.
• ✗ I've been writing three emails this morning.→✓ I've written three emails this morning.A number of finished things takes the present perfect simple.