Present Perfect Continuous
with time words since,
for,
all day,
all afternoon, every day this year,
How long?
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1. to say how long something has been happening. The action began in the past, continues in the present (or has just stopped), and may continue into the future.
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Ann has been playing tennis for two hours. (Ann is playing tennis now. She began to play tennis two hours ago and she is still playing.)
I have been waiting for my girlfriend since 6 o'clock.
He has been smoking for ten years.
Nancy has been skiing since she was 8.
We have been living here for seven years.
He has been watching TV all evening.
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2. to talk about an action which began in the past and has recently finished or just finished (without time words)
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Bob and Gloria have just come back from the park. They have been jogging and they are very tired now.
Your shirt is so dirty. What have you been doing?
Susan has been talking to Mike.
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3. to express an action or general activity in progress (without time words or with recently, lately)
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Victoria has been thinking about changing her job.
Michael has been studying hard lately.
Robert has been having problems with his back recently.
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4. to express anger, irritation, annoyance, explanation or criticism
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She has been using my make-up.
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!!! Sometimes the Present Perfect Simple and the Present Perfect Continuous have identical or slightly different meaning
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1. I have lived here for 6 years. (the situation may be permanent)
2. I have been living here for 6 years. (the situation may be temporary)
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