The present perfect continuous looks back from now. The action started earlier, and either it is still happening, or it has just stopped and you can still see the result.
What it is for
I have been waiting all morning.
She has been working here since March.
They have been talking for an hour.
In each sentence, the clock started in the past and has not been turned off.
Two pictures
| Still going | Finished result |
|---|---|
| I have been painting the shed. | I have painted the shed. |
| The work is not finished, or just stopped. | The job is done. |
If you can still hear the rain, smell the paint, or see the open laptop, English often wants have been + I-N-G verb.
I have been waiting for this update all morning.
I have been painting the shed.
It has been raining since lunch.
We have been talking for an hour.
Read the same lines you just heard:
Like when I've been working on a project for hours?
And picture two: a gardener who has been watering it