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How long have you been…?

Present perfect continuous

A2 to B22 minutesfree, no account
THE RULE IN ONE LINE

I have been doing = something that started in the past and is still going on (or has just stopped), often with how long: for two hours, since Monday, all day.

  • I've been waiting for an hour.
  • How long have you been learning English?
  • She's tired because she's been running.

In Spanish you say «llevo dos horas esperando» or «espero desde las diez»; in English it is I've been waiting for two hours, since ten.

THE TRAP

Some verbs, like know, like, believe and own, aren't used with been + -ing: I've known her for years, not I've been knowing her.

Also on this page: for and since · How long…? · I have been doing or I have done

Try 6

Six quick questions, easiest first. At the end you'll see which mistake you make.

THE QUESTIONS
  1. I ______ for this test since last Monday.studied · have been studying · am studying
  2. How long ______ at this college? Since September?are you studying · do you study · have you been studying
  3. Alex and I ______ on the phone for two hours, and my ear hurts!chat · have been chatting · are chatting
  4. Lena has been ______ in this company since she graduated.worked · working · work
  5. We ______ for the client to reply to our email for three days now.waited · are waiting · have been waiting
  6. He's got a headache because he ______ at spreadsheets all morning.stares · has been staring · is staring
  7. I ______ to come up with a good idea for the project for hours, but I still have nothing.had tried · am trying · try · have been trying
  8. Jamal ______ for a new laptop since the summer, and he's nearly got enough.saved · is saving · has been saving
  9. My flatmate ______ for a cheaper energy deal all afternoon, and he's still on the phone.looked · has been looking · is looking
  10. Marta is exhausted because she ______ experiments in the lab since seven this morning.carried out · is carrying out · has been carrying out · carries out
  11. Dan and Mia have been ______ about their holiday plans since lunch.talk · talked · talking
  12. My colleagues ______ about the new software ever since it was installed.are complaining · have been complaining · complained
Show the answers
  1. have been studyingnot studied: I did for something still going onnot am studying: I'm doing or I do with how long
  2. have you been studyingnot do you study: How long do you…? or How long are you…?not are you studying: How long do you…? or How long are you…?
  3. have been chattingnot chat: I'm doing or I do with how longnot are chatting: I'm doing or I do with how long
  4. workingnot work: have been + the -ing wordnot worked: have been + the -ing word
  5. have been waitingnot waited: I did for something still going onnot are waiting: I'm doing or I do with how long
  6. has been staringnot stares: I'm doing or I do with how longnot is staring: I'm doing or I do with how long
  7. have been tryingnot try: I'm doing or I do with how longnot am trying: I'm doing or I do with how long
  8. has been savingnot saved: I did for something still going onnot is saving: I'm doing or I do with how long
  9. has been lookingnot looked: I did for something still going onnot is looking: I'm doing or I do with how long
  10. has been carrying outnot carried out: I did for something still going onnot carries out: I'm doing or I do with how longnot is carrying out: I'm doing or I do with how long
  11. talkingnot talk: have been + the -ing wordnot talked: have been + the -ing word
  12. have been complainingnot complained: I did for something still going onnot are complaining: I'm doing or I do with how long

Common mistakes on this point

I'm doing or I do with how long

Not: I'm waiting here since ten o'clock.

Say: I've been waiting here since ten o'clock.

Something that started in the past and is still going on takes I have been doing (or I have done) with for, since or all day, not I'm doing.

See this mistake on its own page ›
How long do you…? or How long are you…?

Not: How long do you know her?

Say: How long have you known her?

A question about how long, up to now, takes How long have you been…?

See this mistake on its own page ›
I did for something still going on

Not: She worked here since 2020.

Say: She's been working here since 2020.

since, and for + how long up to now, take I have been doing (or I have done): She's been working here / She's worked here since 2020. I did is for a finished time.

See this mistake on its own page ›
have been + the -ing word

Not: She has been work here for years.

Say: She has been working here for years.

have or has + been + the -ing word: I've been working, she's been running.

See this mistake on its own page ›