Zorg Spacehave been doing: how long it has gone on
The rule
have / has been + -ing looks at an activity that started in the past and is still going on, or has only just stopped, and it puts the weight on the DURATION rather than the result. I have been waiting for an hour is about the hour; I have written three emails is about the three emails. It is also the form you want when the present result is visible: You are out of breath — have you been running?. State verbs stay simple: I have known her for years, never I have been knowing her.
have / has been + verb-ing · How long have you been …?
Examples
I have been waiting for over an hour.
She has been studying English since March.
How long have you been living here?
You look tired — have you been working all night?
Common mistakes
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Wrong: I am waiting since two o’clock.
Right: I have been waiting since two o’clock.
since measures from the past to now, which the present simple cannot do.
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Wrong: I have been knowing him for years.
Right: I have known him for years.
State verbs like know have no continuous form.
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Wrong: I have been reading three books this month.
Right: I have read three books this month.
A finished number of things is a result, so the simple form.
Practice questions
Try each one yourself first, then open “Show answer” for the solution and the reason.
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1Choose the correct sentence.
- I have been look for a flat for six months.
- I look for a flat for six months.
- I am looking for a flat for six months.
- I have been looking for a flat for six months.
Show answer
Answer: D I have been looking for a flat for six months.
A stretch of time up to now takes have been + -ing.
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2Choose the correct sentence.
- She has painted the kitchen.
- She has been painting the kitchen for the result.
- She is painting the kitchen since Monday.
- She has been paint the kitchen.
Show answer
Answer: A She has painted the kitchen.
The finished result takes the simple present perfect.
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3Choose the correct sentence.
- How long has he been drive a bus?
- How long has he been driving a bus?
- How long is he driving a bus?
- How long he has been driving a bus?
Show answer
Answer: B How long has he been driving a bus?
How long …? about something still going on takes the continuous.
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4Choose the correct sentence.
- I am owning this car since 2018.
- I have been owning this car since 2018.
- I have owned this car since 2018.
- I own this car since 2018.
Show answer
Answer: C I have owned this car since 2018.
own is a state verb: no continuous.
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5Fill in the gap.
They _____ about that problem all morning.
- have talk
- have been talking
- are talking
- has been talking
Show answer
Answer: B They have been talking about that problem all morning.
All morning up to now is duration, and they takes have.
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6Fill in the gap.
The floor is wet because it _____.
- has been raining
- has been rain
- is raining since
- has rained three times
Show answer
Answer: A The floor is wet because it has been raining.
The visible result now points to the continuous.
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7Fill in the gap.
I _____ this book twice and I still like it.
- am reading
- have been read
- have read
- have been reading
Show answer
Answer: C I have read this book twice and I still like it.
twice counts finished readings, so the simple form.
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8Fill in the gap.
How long _____ you been feeling unwell?
- have
- has
- are
- did
Show answer
Answer: A How long have you been feeling unwell?
you always takes have.
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9Put the words in the right order.
We have been living here since January
Show answer
Answer: We have been living here since January.
have + been + -ing, then the starting point with since.
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10Put the words in the right order.
She has been working here for ten years
Show answer
Answer: She has been working here for ten years.
for measures the length, and she takes has.
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