What Is “Have/Has Been Doing”?
The structure “have/has been doing” is used to form the Present Perfect Continuous tense in English. It describes actions that:
- Started in the past and are still happening now.
- Just recently stopped, but their effects are visible.
- Emphasize the duration or ongoing nature of an activity.
Structure
Subject + have/has + been + verb-ing
I have been studying English for two hours.
She has been working here since 2020.
Common Time Expressions
- for + period (e.g., for three days)
- since + point in time (e.g., since Monday)
- all morning / all day / all week
- recently / lately
Examples in Context
“Why are you tired?” – “Because I have been running.”
He has been painting the house all week. That’s why it smells like paint!
Quick Quiz
Choose the correct sentence: