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Tenses >> Present perfect continuous tense (present perfect progressive)

Structure of present perfect continuous

They've (They have) been living in this flat for more than five years.

Have they been living here for a long time?

They haven't (have not) been living in this flat for very long.


Present perfect continuous - common mistakes

Common mistakes

Correct version

Why?

It has been rain heavily all day.

It has been raining heavily all day.

The structure of present perfect continuous is have/has been -ing.

I have sat here for two hours.

I have been sitting here for two hours.

Verbs such as sit, wait, speak, etc. (non-stative verbs) suggest continuity and so are mostly used in the continuous (-ing) form.

Which?
I have worked here for five years.
I have been working here for 5 years.

When BOTH the simple and continuous form are possible, native speakers prefer to use the continuous.

 

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