Present perfect continuous · Presente perfecto continuo
How long? The ongoing past
- The present perfect continuous shows an action that started in the past and is still going (or just stopped).
- I have been waiting for an hour.
- It focuses on the activity and its duration.
I have been studying for hours; the kettle has been waiting just as long.
¿Cuánto tiempo? El pasado continuo
- El presente perfecto continuo indica una acción que comenzó en el pasado y que todavía está en curso (o acaba de terminar).
- I have been waiting for an hour.
- Se centra en la actividad y su duración.
I have been studying for hours; the kettle has been waiting just as long.
Form: have been + -ing
- have / has been + verb-ing.
- She has been studying. They have been working.
- Short forms: I've been …, she's been ….
Forma: have been + -ing
- have / has been + verbo-ing.
- She has been studying. They have been working.
- Formas cortas: I've been …, she's been ….
Which sentence is the present perfect continuous? · ¿Cuál oración está en presente perfecto continuo?
Present perfect continuous = have/has been + verb-ing. · Presente perfecto continuo = have/has been + verbo-ing.
for and since
- for + a length of time: for two hours.
- since + a starting point: since this morning.
- I have been living here for two years.
for y since
- for + una longitud de tiempo: for two hours.
- since + un punto de inicio: since this morning.
- I have been living here for two years.
Complete: She has been studying ___ nine o'clock. (for / since) · Completa: She has been studying ___ nine o'clock. (for / since)
Nine o'clock is a starting point → since. · Nine o'clock es un punto de inicio → since.
Translate into English: 我已经等了一个小时了。 · Traduce al inglés: 我已经等了一个小时了。
Ongoing duration → have been + -ing: “I have been waiting for an hour.” · Duración en curso → have been + -ing: “I have been waiting for an hour.”
Continuous vs simple
- Continuous → the activity / duration: I've been reading (still going).
- Simple → the result: I've read it (finished).
- State verbs (know, like, be) don't take the continuous.
Continuo vs simple
- Continuo → la actividad / la duración: I've been reading (aún continúa).
- Simple → el resultado: I've read it (terminado).
- Los verbos de estado (know, like, be) no se usan en continuo.
Can this verb be continuous? · ¿Puede este verbo estar en forma continua?
Action verbs can be continuous; state verbs (know, like, be) cannot. · Los verbos de acción pueden estar en forma continua; los verbos de estado (know, like, be) no.
Is this correct? “I have been knowing him for years.” · ¿Es esto correcto? “I have been knowing him for years.”
“know” is a state verb — no continuous: “I have known him for years.” · “know” es un verbo de estado — sin forma continua: “I have known him for years.”
Common mistakes
- ❌ I am waiting for an hour. → ✓ I have been waiting for an hour. — a length of time needs the perfect.
- ❌ How long are you living here? → ✓ How long have you been living here?
- ❌ She has been finished. → ✓ She has finished. — been only goes with -ing.
Errores comunes
- ❌ I am waiting for an hour. → ✓ I have been waiting for an hour. — Una longitud de tiempo requiere el perfecto.
- ❌ How long are you living here? → ✓ How long have you been living here?
- ❌ She has been finished. → ✓ She has finished. — been solo va con -ing.
Put the words in order to make a question. · Ordena las palabras para formar una pregunta.
How long + have + subject + been + -ing: “How long have you been waiting?” · How long + have + sujeto + been + -ing: “How long have you been waiting?”
You finished three books this week. Is “I have been reading three books this week” the best tense? · Terminaste tres libros esta semana. ¿“I have been reading three books this week” es el mejor tiempo verbal?
A completed amount → present perfect: “I have read three books this week.” · Una cantidad completada → presente perfecto: “I have read three books this week.”
- have / has been + verb-ing = started in the past, still going.
- for + a duration; since + a starting point.
- Focus on the activity, not the finished result.
- have / has been + verbo-ing = comenzó en el pasado, aún continúa.
- for + una duración; since + un punto de inicio.
- El foco está en la actividad, no en el resultado final.
What have you been doing a lot lately? Write one sentence using the present perfect continuous. · ¿Qué has estado haciendo mucho últimamente? Escribe una oración usando el presente perfecto continuo.
Example: “I have been practising English every day.” · Ejemplo: “I have been practising English every day.”