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Formation and usage of the Present Perfect Continuous tense.
The Present Perfect Continuous describes an activity that started in the past and has continued until now or has recently stopped with a present result.
The tense usually emphasizes the duration or ongoing nature of an activity rather than its completion.
I have been studying for three hours.
Я учусь уже три часа.
Activity started in the past and continues now.
She has been working all morning.
Она работает всё утро.
Emphasizes ongoing activity.
They have been travelling recently.
В последнее время они путешествуют.
Recent ongoing activity.
It has been raining since morning.
Дождь идёт с утра.
Situation continuing until now.
The Present Perfect Continuous is formed with have or has been followed by the present participle of the main verb.
The basic structure is subject + have or has + been + verb-ing. For example, I have been working and She has been studying.
I have been working.
Я работаю (уже некоторое время).
have + been + verb-ing.
She has been studying.
Она учится (уже некоторое время).
has + been + verb-ing.
They have been waiting.
Они ждут (уже некоторое время).
have + been + verb-ing.
He has been running.
Он бегает (уже некоторое время).
has + been + verb-ing.
Use have been with I, you, we, and they, and use has been with he, she, and it.
For example, I have been waiting, They have been travelling, and She has been working.
I have been waiting.
Я жду.
have been with I.
You have been working hard.
Ты усердно работаешь.
have been with you.
She has been working.
Она работает.
has been with she.
They have been travelling.
Они путешествуют.
have been with they.
Affirmative sentences use have or has, followed by been and the -ing form of the main verb.
For example, We have been learning English and He has been working all day.
We have been learning English for two years.
Мы учим английский уже два года.
Affirmative with have.
He has been working all day.
Он работает весь день.
Affirmative with has.
I have been feeling tired lately.
В последнее время я чувствую усталость.
Affirmative.
She has been cooking for an hour.
Она готовит уже час.
Affirmative with has.
Form negative sentences by adding not after have or has.
For example, I have not been sleeping well and She has not been feeling well.
I have not been sleeping well.
Я в последнее время плохо сплю.
have not been + verb-ing.
She has not been feeling well.
Она неважно себя чувствует.
has not been + verb-ing.
They have not been studying.
Они не занимаются.
Negative.
He has not been working here long.
Он здесь недолго работает.
Negative with long.
Form questions by placing have or has before the subject.
For example, Have you been waiting long? Has she been working today?
Have you been waiting long?
Ты давно ждёшь?
Yes/no question.
Has she been working today?
Она сегодня работала?
Yes/no question.
What have you been doing?
Что ты делал (всё это время)?
Wh-question.
How long has he been living here?
Как долго он здесь живёт?
How long question.
Short answers use have or has without repeating been and the main verb.
For example, Yes, I have. No, she has not. Yes, they have.
Have you been working? — Yes, I have.
Ты работал? — Да.
Short answer.
Has she been crying? — No, she hasn't.
Она плакала? — Нет.
Negative short answer.
Have they been studying? — Yes, they have.
Они занимались? — Да.
Short answer.
Has he been playing? — No, he hasn't.
Он играл? — Нет.
Short answer.
Use the Present Perfect Continuous for activities that started in the past and are still continuing at the present moment.
For example, I have been studying for three hours means that the activity started in the past and is still continuing now.
I have been studying for three hours.
Я учусь уже три часа.
Activity still in progress.
She has been working on the report since morning.
Она работает над отчётом с утра.
Started in the past, continues now.
They have been living here since 2010.
Они живут здесь с 2010 года.
Duration continuing.
He has been waiting for the bus for twenty minutes.
Он ждёт автобус уже двадцать минут.
Still waiting.
Use the Present Perfect Continuous for activities that have recently stopped when there is evidence or a result in the present.
For example, You are out of breath. Have you been running?
You are out of breath. Have you been running?
Ты запыхался. Ты бегал?
Present result (out of breath) from recent activity.
Her eyes are red. She has been crying.
У неё красные глаза. Она плакала.
Visible result.
The ground is wet. It has been raining.
Земля мокрая. Шёл дождь.
Evidence of recent activity.
He is tired because he has been working all night.
Он устал, потому что работал всю ночь.
Recent activity with present result.
The Present Perfect Continuous often emphasizes how long an activity has been happening.
It is commonly used with expressions such as for two hours, since Monday, all day, and recently.
I have been waiting for two hours.
Я жду уже два часа.
Emphasis on length of time.
She has been studying English since 2018.
Она учит английский с 2018 года.
Since + starting point.
They have been playing video games all day.
Они играют в видеоигры весь день.
All day indicates duration.
He has been working recently.
В последнее время он работает.
Recently emphasises ongoing period.
Use for to express a period of time and since to express the starting point of an activity.
For example, I have been working for three hours and She has been living here since 2020.
I have been working for three hours.
Я работаю уже три часа.
for + period.
She has been living here since 2020.
Она живёт здесь с 2020 года.
since + point.
We have been travelling for a week.
Мы путешествуем уже неделю.
for + duration.
He has been playing the piano since he was a child.
Он играет на пианино с детства.
since + clause.
Use How long with the Present Perfect Continuous to ask about the duration of an ongoing activity.
For example, How long have you been learning English? and How long has she been waiting?
How long have you been learning English?
Как долго ты учишь английский?
Question about duration.
How long has she been waiting?
Как долго она ждёт?
Duration question.
How long have they been living here?
Как долго они здесь живут?
Duration question.
How long has he been working there?
Как долго он там работает?
Duration question.
The Present Perfect Continuous can describe repeated activities that have occurred over a period of time leading up to the present.
For example, I have been calling him all morning and She has been visiting her grandmother regularly.
I have been calling him all morning.
Я звоню ему всё утро.
Repeated calls over a period.
She has been visiting her grandmother regularly.
Она регулярно навещает бабушку.
Repeated activity.
They have been going to the gym a lot recently.
В последнее время они часто ходят в спортзал.
Repeated recent activity.
He has been sending me emails all week.
Он шлёт мне письма всю неделю.
Repeated over a week.
The Present Perfect Continuous often emphasizes temporary or ongoing activities rather than permanent situations.
For example, I have been working from home recently describes a current temporary or developing situation.
I have been working from home recently.
В последнее время я работаю из дома.
Temporary situation.
She has been staying with friends this month.
В этом месяце она живёт у друзей.
Temporary living arrangement.
They have been using a temporary office.
Они пользуются временным офисом.
Temporary.
He has been working on a special project.
Он работает над специальным проектом.
Temporary activity.
The Present Perfect often focuses on a completed result, while the Present Perfect Continuous focuses on the activity, duration, or process.
Compare I have written five emails with I have been writing emails all morning.
I have written five emails.
Я написал пять писем.
Present Perfect: focus on completed result.
I have been writing emails all morning.
Я пишу письма всё утро.
Present Perfect Continuous: focus on activity.
She has read that book.
Она прочитала эту книгу.
Completion.
She has been reading that book for hours.
Она читает эту книгу уже несколько часов.
Activity duration.
Choose the Present Perfect when the result or completed quantity is important and the Present Perfect Continuous when the activity itself is important.
For example, She has painted three pictures focuses on the completed result, while She has been painting all afternoon focuses on the activity.
She has painted three pictures.
Она нарисовала три картины.
Completed result.
She has been painting all afternoon.
Она рисует весь день.
Ongoing activity.
He has fixed the car.
Он починил машину.
Completed result.
He has been fixing the car for hours.
Он чинит машину уже несколько часов.
Ongoing activity.
The Present Continuous describes an activity happening now, while the Present Perfect Continuous connects an activity that started in the past with the present.
Compare I am reading a book with I have been reading this book for two weeks.
I am reading a book.
Я читаю книгу (сейчас).
Present Continuous: happening now.
I have been reading this book for two weeks.
Я читаю эту книгу уже две недели.
Present Perfect Continuous: started in past, continues.
She is working on a project.
Она работает над проектом (сейчас).
Current action.
She has been working on a project since Monday.
Она работает над проектом с понедельника.
Ongoing since past.
The Present Perfect Continuous connects an activity with the present, while the Past Continuous describes an activity that was in progress at a particular time in the past.
Compare I have been working since morning with I was working when you called.
I have been working since morning.
Я работаю с утра.
Connected to present.
I was working when you called.
Я работал, когда ты позвонил.
Past Continuous: action in progress at a past time.
They have been living here for years.
Они живут здесь много лет.
Continues to present.
They were living in London when they met.
Они жили в Лондоне, когда встретились.
Past situation.
Many stative verbs are not normally used in continuous forms, including the Present Perfect Continuous.
Verbs such as know, believe, understand, own, and belong usually use the Present Perfect instead. For example, I have known her for years.
I have known her for years.
Я знаю её много лет.
Stative: use present perfect, not continuous.
She has believed in ghosts since childhood.
Она верит в привидений с детства.
Stative verb.
They have owned this house for twenty years.
Они владеют этим домом уже двадцать лет.
Stative possession.
He has understood the problem for a while.
Он понимает проблему уже некоторое время.
Stative cognition.
Some verbs can be used in either the Present Perfect or the Present Perfect Continuous, but the meaning may emphasize different aspects of the situation.
For example, I have lived here for ten years and I have been living here for ten years can both be correct, depending on whether the focus is on the state or the ongoing activity.
I have lived here for ten years.
Я живу здесь десять лет.
Present Perfect: state, permanent.
I have been living here for ten years.
Я живу здесь десять лет.
Present Perfect Continuous: possible, emphasises ongoing situation.
She has worked at the bank since 2018.
Она работает в банке с 2018 года.
Present Perfect.
She has been working at the bank since 2018.
Она работает в банке с 2018 года.
Continuous also possible.
Recently and lately can be used with the Present Perfect Continuous to describe activities occurring during a recent period.
For example, I have been feeling tired lately and What have you been doing recently?
I have been feeling tired lately.
В последнее время я чувствую усталость.
Lately.
What have you been doing recently?
Что ты делал в последнее время?
Question with recently.
She has been working a lot lately.
В последнее время она много работает.
Lately.
Have you been sleeping well recently?
Ты в последнее время хорошо спишь?
Question with recently.
Expressions such as all day, all morning, all week, and lately are commonly used to emphasize the duration of an activity.
For example, They have been travelling all week and I have been working all day.
They have been travelling all week.
Они путешествуют всю неделю.
All week.
I have been working all day.
Я работаю весь день.
All day.
She has been studying all morning.
Она занимается всё утро.
All morning.
We have been cleaning the house all afternoon.
Мы убираем дом весь день.
All afternoon.
The Present Perfect Continuous can explain a visible condition or present result caused by a recent activity.
For example, Her clothes are dirty because she has been gardening.
Her clothes are dirty because she has been gardening.
Её одежда грязная, потому что она занималась садом.
Visible result.
He is sweating because he has been running.
Он потеет, потому что бегал.
Present result.
The kitchen smells wonderful because she has been baking.
Кухня пахнет чудесно, потому что она пекла.
Result.
His eyes are tired because he has been reading all night.
Его глаза устали, потому что он читал всю ночь.
Visible result.
Questions beginning with Why can use the Present Perfect Continuous to ask about the cause of a current situation.
For example, Why have you been crying? and Why has he been acting so strangely?
Why have you been crying?
Почему ты плакала?
Asking about cause of current state.
Why has he been acting so strangely?
Почему он ведёт себя так странно?
Recent behaviour.
Why have they been calling you?
Почему они тебе звонят?
Repeated calls.
Why has she been avoiding me?
Почему она меня избегает?
Recent avoidance.
Use have or has been followed by the correct -ing form, and avoid using the tense with stative verbs that normally do not take continuous forms.
Common mistakes include omitting been, using the past participle instead of the -ing form, confusing for and since, and choosing the continuous form when the completed result is more important.
I have working here for three years.
Я работаю здесь три года.
Incorrect: missing been. Should be "I have been working..."
She has been worked here for a long time.
Она давно здесь работает.
Incorrect: use -ing form, not past participle.
I have been knowing her for years.
Я знаю её много лет.
Incorrect: stative verb "know" should not be continuous.
We have been waiting since two hours.
Мы ждём два часа.
Incorrect: use "for two hours", not "since two hours".
I have been reading five books this month.
Я прочитал пять книг в этом месяце.
Incorrect: completed result should use present perfect simple, not continuous.