Present Perfect Continuous

The present perfect continuous is used to refer to an unspecified time between 'before now' and 'now'. The speaker is thinking about something that started but perhaps did not finish in that period of time. They are interested in the process as well as the result, and this process may still be going on, or may have just finished.

Subject-Verb Agreement

The present perfect continuous is made up of two elements: the present perfect of the verb 'to be' (have/has been), and the present participle of the main verb (base+ing).

Affirmative

I have been drinking...
You have been drinking...
We have been drinking...
They have been drinking...
He has been drinking...
She has been drinking...
It has been drinking...

Interrogative

Have I been drinking...?
Have you been drinking...?
Have we been drinking...?
Have they been drinking...?
Has he been drinking...?
Has she been drinking...?
Has it been drinking...?

Negative

I Have not been drinking...
You haven't been drinking...
- You have not been drinking...
We haven't been drinking...
- We have not been drinking...
They haven't been drinking...
- They have not been drinking...
He hasn't been drinking...
- He has not been drinking...
She hasn't been drinking...
- She has not been drinking...
It hasn't been drinking...
- It has not been drinking...

Usage

To describe an action or situation that started in the past and continues in the present.

Examples

She has been waiting for you all day (= and she's still waiting now).

I've been working on this report since eight o'clock this morning (= and I still haven't finished it).

They have been traveling since last October (= and they're not home yet).

To describe an action that has just finished, and we are more interested in the result.

Examples

She has been cooking since last night (= and the food on the table looks delicious).

It's been raining (= and the streets are still wet).

Someone's been eating my chips (= half of them have gone).

Perfect Simple