![waiting](https://s3.amazonaws.com/smrtenglish.com/core/ENGL115AUTO/unit11/11-2g1.jpg)
A: How long have you been waiting?
B: I've been waiting for three hours.
Present Perfect Continuous
have or has + been + verb ~ing
Positive & Negative Sentences
I You We They |
have 've have not haven't |
been | raining waiting working |
for a few hours. in line for twenty minutes. today since 8 AM. |
He She It |
has 's has not hasn't |
Questions
Have | I you we they |
been | raining waiting working |
for a few hours? in line for twenty minutes? today since 8 AM? |
Has | he she it |
Use
How Long?
We can use the Present Perfect to describe things that started in the past and continue now:
Example #1
- I came to work at 8 AM this morning.
- Now, it is 1 PM. I'm at work now.
- I've been at work since 8 AM this morning.
Example #2
- It started raining two hours ago.
- It's raining now.
- It's been raining for two hours.
Example #3
- I moved to Vancouver three months ago.
- I am living in Vancouver now.
- I've been living in Vancouver for three months.
Example #4
- Kazu bought her sedan six weeks ago.
- She has the sedan now.
- She's had her sedan for six weeks.
Simple or Continuous?
Present Simple ➝ Present Perfect Simple
![sports car](https://s3.amazonaws.com/smrtenglish.com/core/ENGL115AUTO/unit11/11-2g2.jpg)
Chris has a red sports car. He's had the car for two years.
![in the pub](https://s3.amazonaws.com/smrtenglish.com/core/ENGL115AUTO/unit11/11-2g3.jpg)
I know Frank. I've known him since we were kids.
![married](https://s3.amazonaws.com/smrtenglish.com/core/ENGL115AUTO/unit11/11-2g4.jpg)
We're married. We've been married for eight months.
Present Continuous ➝ Present Perfect Continuous
![car in traffic](https://s3.amazonaws.com/smrtenglish.com/core/ENGL115AUTO/unit11/11-2g5.jpg)
I'm waiting in heavy traffic. I've been waiting here for a few hours.
![raining](https://s3.amazonaws.com/smrtenglish.com/core/ENGL115AUTO/unit11/11-2g6.jpg)
It's raining. It's been raining since 6.
![working](https://s3.amazonaws.com/smrtenglish.com/core/ENGL115AUTO/unit11/11-2g7.jpg)
We're working. We've been working for many hours.
How Long Have You...?
![people waiting](https://s3.amazonaws.com/smrtenglish.com/core/ENGL115AUTO/unit11/11-2g8.jpg)
How long have you been here?
![restoring car](https://s3.amazonaws.com/smrtenglish.com/core/ENGL115AUTO/unit11/11-2g9.jpg)
How long have they been restoring vehicles?
![woman with umbrella](https://s3.amazonaws.com/smrtenglish.com/core/ENGL115AUTO/unit11/11-2g10.jpg)
How long has it been raining?
Since & For
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