Present Perfect Continuous
Lesson 2 of 5 · ~6 minutes

Lesson 2 · Present Perfect Continuous

Duration

How long it's been going on

for — how long (an hour, two years, all morning). since — from what point (Monday, six o'clock, lunch). The question is How long have you been waiting? The activity is still going on now.

What

how long
since when
question

Word

for an hour
since Monday
How long have you been…?

Example

I have been waiting for an hour
Anna has been working since Monday
How long have you been sitting here?
What
Word
Example
how long
for an hour
I have been waiting for an hour
since when
since Monday
Anna has been working since Monday
question
How long have you been…?
How long have you been sitting here?

I have been waiting for the bus for twenty minutes.

Anna has been working at the shop since Monday.

How long have you been sitting here?

It has been raining since lunch.

Where people usually slip

Two common slips.

since takes a point in time, not a period. Not since an hour and not since two years — that's a period, so you need for: for an hour, for two years.

Not I wait here since Monday and not I am waiting here since Monday — you need I have been waiting here since Monday.

  • how longI have been waiting for the bus for twenty minutes.
  • since whenAnna has been working at the shop since Monday.
  • questionHow long have you been sitting here?
  • still going onIt has been raining since lunch.
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