Present Perfect Continuous — for / since / just

B1 — grammar, vocabulary, listening, reading, writing

Sofía: I have been designing the same logo for two weeks. The client wants it 'more blue, but less blue'.

Kenji: I have been studying Spanish since January. Today I learned that 'ahorita' can mean any moment in history.

Abuela Carmen: I have been cooking since 6 a.m. — Ben, have you finished setting the table?

Ben: Yes, I have! I just did. ...OK, OK, I'm doing it now.

Common mistake: “I have been working here since three years.” — Correct: “I have been working here for three years.”

The present perfect continuous (have been + -ing) measures how long something has been happening — 'since' marks the starting point, 'for' the amount of time, and 'just' says it finished a moment ago.

have been + -ing · since / for / just
PieceStructureExample
Structurehave/has been + verb-ingI have been working all day
since + starting pointa specific date or momentsince 2020 · since Monday · since 8 a.m.
for + time rangean amount of timefor three hours · for ten years
just = a moment agoYes, I have. I just did. / I have just finished.Have you finished the task? Yes, I have. I just did.
QuestionHow long have you been + -ing?How long have you been living here?
Negativehaven't/hasn't been + -ingShe hasn't been sleeping well lately

Practice

  1. I have been working here ___ 2020. (since, for, just)
  2. Kenji has been studying Spanish ___ six months. (since, for, ago)
  3. Have you finished the task? — Yes, I have. I ___ did. (yet, since, just)
  4. 'Since' introduces the starting point (since 2020); 'for' introduces the amount of time (for three years).
  5. 'I have been working since three years' is correct.
  6. Abuela Carmen has been cooking ___ 6 a.m.
  7. Sofía has been designing the same logo ___ two weeks.
  8. How long ___ you been living in Medellín?
  9. Unscramble: I, have, been, studying, for, three, hours
  10. Unscramble: how, long, have, you, been, waiting
  11. Find the mistake: I have been working here since three years.
  12. Find the mistake: She has been study English for two years.
  13. Find the mistake: We have been living here for 2019.
  14. I have been sleeping well. — Write the negative form.
  15. She has been working all day. — Write the yes/no question.
  16. Have you finished the task? — Answer Yes with the short answer + 'just'.
  17. They have been practicing for a long time. — Write the negative form.
  18. He hasn't been listening. — Write the affirmative form.
  19. Have you been studying English for more than a year? (short answer)
  20. Have you been sleeping in class? (short answer, No)

Listening

Kenji: Sofía, how long have you been working as a designer?

Sofía: I have been designing since 2019 — so, for about seven years.

Kenji: And how long have you been waiting for that client's answer?

Sofía: For three days. I have been checking my email every five minutes.

Ben: News! The client has just answered!

Sofía: Finally! ...He wants it 'more blue, but less blue' again.

Reading

Abuela Carmen has been living in the same house since 1980, and she has been cooking in the same kitchen for more than forty years. 'People ask me: Abuela, how long have you been making this recipe? Since before your parents met, my dear.' This morning she has been preparing a special lunch since six o'clock, because Kenji's parents have just arrived from Japan. Kenji has been practicing one Spanish sentence for a week: 'Mucho gusto, la comida está deliciosa.' He has just said it perfectly — and Abuela Carmen has been smiling since that moment.