English Mastery
Module 1 · Verb Tenses

Present Perfect Continuous

Intermediate50 min25 questions8 sections
Step 1

Quick Look

The Present Perfect Continuous describes an action that started in the past and is still going on (or just stopped, leaving visible evidence). In Hindi thinking, this is the ‘kab se kar rahā hai’ tense. It answers the question: HOW LONG has this been happening?
Sentence TypeStructure + Example
Affirmative
Subject+have/has+been+verb-ing
I have been waiting for an hour.
Negative
Subject+have/has+not+been+verb-ing
I have not been sleeping well.
Question
Have/Has+subject+been+verb-ing?
How long have you been waiting?

The golden rule: three parts, always — have/has + been + -ing. Learners drop ‘been’ constantly (‘I have working here’) — if the sentence answers ‘since when / how long’, all three parts must be present.

Step 2

When to Use It

since morningNOWPASTFUTURE
Use 1

Action started in the past, still continuing

The classic use — with for/since to give the duration.
  • We have been living in Indirapuram since 2017.
  • She has been teaching at this school for twelve years.
  • I have been trying to call you since morning!
just stopped evidenceNOWPASTFUTURE
Use 2

Action that just stopped — evidence visible now

The action recently ended, and you can see/feel its result.
  • His hands are dirty — he has been repairing the car.
  • The ground is wet. It has been raining.
  • Why are you out of breath? Have you been running?
recently startedNOWPASTFUTURE
Use 3

Temporary ongoing situations

Recently started, still going, but not permanent.
  • I have been working from home since the office renovation started.
  • He has been staying with us until his flat is ready.
all weekNOWPASTFUTURE
Use 4

Repeated actions over a recent period

Something happening again and again lately.
  • Clients have been asking about the new tower all week.
  • She has been complaining about the water supply for days.
Extra

Present Perfect vs. Present Perfect Continuous

Both can use for/since. The difference is focus: Continuous highlights the ONGOING ACTIVITY and its duration; Simple Perfect highlights the COMPLETED RESULT or amount.
Present Perfect Continuous (activity, duration)Present Perfect (result, amount)
I have been reading this book. (still in the middle)I have read this book. (finished it)
She has been calling clients all morning. (the activity)She has called twenty clients. (the count)
They have been building the tower for two years. (ongoing)They have built three towers. (completed)
Stative verb exception: know, be, have (own), like never take continuous — so duration with these verbs uses simple Present Perfect: I have known him for years (NOT: have been knowing).
Activity or result?
ACTIVITYPresent Perfect Continuousthe activity and its durationhow long?NOWPASTFUTUREI have been reading this book.(still in the middle)RESULTPresent Perfectthe completed result or amounthow much?NOWPASTFUTUREI have read this book.(finished it)
Both can use for / since. Continuous looks at the ongoing activity; the simple Perfect looks at what is finished or counted.
Step 4

Hindi Concept Note

अHindi Concept Noteहिंदी में समझिए
यह tense बताता है कि काम कब से चल रहा है — और अब भी चल रहा है।
मैं दो घंटे से इंतज़ार कर रहा हूँ।
I have been waiting for two hours.
वह सुबह से पढ़ाई कर रही है।
She has been studying since morning.
ध्यान दें — हिंदी में हम Present Continuous जैसा ही बोलते हैं (‘kar rahā hoon’), बस ‘से’ (se) जुड़ जाता है। English में ‘से’ आते ही tense बदल जाता है: ‘I am waiting’ नहीं, ‘I have been waiting since...’।
यही वजह है कि ‘I am working here since 2015’ वाली ग़लती होती है — हिंदी का सीधा अनुवाद। सही: I have been working here since 2015.
Step 5

Common Mistakes Hindi Speakers Make

Wrong
Right
Why
I am working here since 2015.
I have been working here since 2015.
‘Since’ + still continuing Perfect Continuous, not Present Continuous. The #1 error with this tense.
She has been work all day.
She has been working all day.
Third part missing its -ing: been + verb-ing.
I have waiting for your call.
I have been waiting for your call.
‘Been’ dropped. All three parts are compulsory.
We have been knowing them for years.
We have known them for years.
‘Know’ is stative — no continuous, even here.
It is raining since last night.
It has been raining since last night.
‘Since last night’ pulls the sentence into Perfect Continuous.
How long you have been living here?
How long have you been living here?
In questions, have/has moves before the subject.
Step 6

Signal Words

These signals point to Present Perfect Continuous:
for + duration (for two hours, for six months) — when the action is still on
since + starting point (since morning, since 2019, since Diwali)
how long...? (How long have you been waiting?)
all day, all morning, all week, lately, recently (ongoing activity)
Visible evidence now: wet ground, tired eyes, dirty hands ‘has been ing’
Step 7

Practice

Set A

Fill in the blanks

0 / 10
  1. 1
    I (work) on this proposal since Monday.
  2. 2
    How long you (learn) English?
  3. 3
    She (not/feel) well lately.
  4. 4
    They (construct) this flyover for three years now.
  5. 5
    Your eyes are red. you (cry)?
  6. 6
    He (drive) since 6 a.m. — he needs rest.
  7. 7
    We (wait) for the RERA approval for months.
  8. 8
    The kids (watch) cartoons all afternoon.
  9. 9
    It (rain) since last night.
  10. 10
    My phone (give) trouble for a week.
Set B

Correct the mistake

0 / 8
  1. 11
    I am living in this society since 2020.
  2. 12
    She has been sing for two hours.
  3. 13
    We have been owning this shop for a decade.
  4. 14
    He has working in Dubai since January.
  5. 15
    How long you have been driving this route?
  6. 16
    They are building this mall since 2023.
  7. 17
    I have been knew about this problem for days.
  8. 18
    The AC have been making noise all night.
Set C

Translate into English

0 / 7
  1. 19
    मैं सुबह से तुम्हारा इंतज़ार कर रहा हूँ।
  2. 20
    वह तीन साल से इस कंपनी में काम कर रही है।
  3. 21
    कब से बारिश हो रही है?
  4. 22
    बच्चे दो घंटे से खेल रहे हैं।
  5. 23
    हम 2019 से इस project पर काम कर रहे हैं।
  6. 24
    वह सुबह से कुछ नहीं बोल रहा है।
  7. 25
    तुम कितने समय से English सीख रहे हो?
Step 8

Answer Key

Show answersHide answers
Answers · Set A
1
have been working
2
have ... been learning
3
has not (hasn’t) been feeling
4
have been constructing
5
Have ... been crying
6
has been driving
7
have been waiting
8
have been watching
9
has been raining
10
has been giving
Answers · Set B
11
I have been living in this society since 2020. (‘Since’ + continuing Perfect Continuous.)
12
She has been singing for two hours. (-ing on the main verb.)
13
We have owned this shop for a decade. (‘Own’ is stative simple Perfect.)
14
He has been working in Dubai since January. (‘Been’ was missing.)
15
How long have you been driving this route? (Have before subject in questions.)
16
They have been building this mall since 2023. (‘Since’ + ongoing Perfect Continuous.)
17
I have known about this problem for days. (‘Know’ is stative.)
18
The AC has been making noise all night. (AC = it has.)
Answers · Set C
19
I have been waiting for you since morning.
20
She has been working in this company for three years.
21
How long has it been raining? / Since when has it been raining?
22
The children have been playing for two hours.
23
We have been working on this project since 2019.
24
He has not been saying anything since morning. / He hasn’t spoken since morning.
25
How long have you been learning English?

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Next up · Chapter 9Past Perfect

The ‘pehle se ho chuka tha’ tense: the train HAD LEFT when we reached the station.