3.3.2.

THE PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE

Form: It consists of the present perfect of the auxiliary be + the present participle of the main
verb: I have been working, etc.
Uses and values:
(1) Temporary situation up to the present use
The present perfect progressive expresses an action which began in the past and is still continuing
at the moment of speaking or has only just finished.
The period / length of time that has elapsed before the present time is indicated by an adverbial
phrase introduced by since (when the starting point is given), for (when the duration is given), all,
long:
It has been raining since early morning (it began raining early morning, it is still raining and
will
perhaps do so for the rest of the morning).
She has been doing her homework for an hour (she started an hour ago and shes still doing
it)
Ive been living in this house for five years.
Ive been waiting for you for three hours!
Ive been reading all afternoon.
Im sorry Im late. Have you been waiting long?
How long have you been working on this paper?
When since is a conjunction it introduces an adverbial clause of time with the verb in the past
tense:
He has been working in a bank since he left school.
Hes been playing the guitar since he was 16.
So, whats been happening since the last time we met?
The present perfect is used in the subordinate clause if the verb denotes an action begun in the
past and continued into the present. Compare:
We have been working hard since we came here.
We have been working hard since we have been here.
The boys have been playing since their mother went out
The boys have been playing since their mother has been away.
It expresses an incomplete activity:
Ive been cleaning the house but I still havent finished.
(2) When this tense is used without any specific mention of time, it expresses a general activity
in progress. The adverbials recently, lately are implied.
Ive been thinking about changing my major.
John has been doing a lot of work on his thesis. He should be finished by May.
(3) Resultative use: The present perfect progressive indicates a recently finished action which
explains a present result (the results of the past action are still apparent). The verb is used without
any adverbial of time:
He has been running. Thats why hes out of breath.
Her eyes are red: shes been crying again.
Why are your hands dirty?Ive been repairing my bike
(4) The present perfect progressive of non-durative verbs expresses repeated actions:
He has been asking me that silly question for almost a month.
They have been meeting like this for years on their way to work.