PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
FORM
Affirmative
- I / You / We / They've (have) been studying in London.
- He / She / It has been studying in London.
Negative
- I / You / We / They haven't (have not) been studying in London.
- He / She / It hasn't (has not) been studying in London.
Interrogative
- Have I / you / we / they been studying in London?
- Has he / she / it been studying in London?
Short answers
- Yes, I / you / we / they have.
- Yes, he / she / it has.
- No, I / you / we / they haven't.
- No, he / she / it hasn't.
USE
- To describe an action that began in the past and has been in progress up to now, with emphasis on the duration of the action - Example: I've been studying in London for three years.
- With How long?, for and since to emphasize the duration of the action - Example: How long have you been studying in London? I've been studying in London for three years.
- To emphasize the continuous nature of an action that has a result / consequence in the present - Example: She's been working hard, and that's why she's exhausted now.
- To underline that an action has literally just stopped and its results / effects are still visible now - Example: It's been raining, and the streets are wet.
FOR
- To indicate the entire period of time, or total amount of time a situation has been true.
- SIGNAL WORDS: 10 minutes, an hour, a day, a week, etc.
SINCE
- To indicate the starting point, or moment when a situation began.
- SIGNAL WORDS: 8 p.m., last week, January 1st, 2010, etc.