present perfect continuous (I have been doing)

Is it raining? No, but the ground is wet. It has been raining.

Have/has been -ing is the present perfect continuous:

I / we/you/they   have   (= I've etc.) he/she/it   has   (= he's etc.)

been

doing working going

We use the present perfect continuous for an activity that has recently stopped or just stopped. There is a connection with now:

• You're out of breath. Have you been running? (you're out of breath now)
• Michael is very tired. He's been working very hard. (he's tired now)
• Why is your hat so dirty? What have you been doing?
• I've been talking to Jack about the problem and she thinks that...

It has been raining for four hours. It is raining now. It began raining two hours ago and it is still raining. How long has it been raining? It has been raining for four hours.

We often use the present prefect continuous in this way, especially with how long, for... and since... . The activity is still happening (as in this example) or has just stopped.

• How long have you been learning English? (you're still learning English)
• Clara is still doing her homework. She's been doing it all day.
• Where have you been? I've been looking for you for the last half hour.
• Goggy hasn't been feeling well recently.

You can use the present perfect continuous for actions repeated over a period of time:

• Marry is a very good tennis player. She's been playing since she was nine.
• Every evening they meet in the same cafe. They've been going there for months.

Compare I am doing (present continuous) and I have been doing (present perfect continuous):

Don't disturb me now. I'm working	I've been working hard, so now I'm going to have a rest.
We need an umbrella. It's raining.	The ground is wet. It's been raining.
Hurry up! We're waiting.	We've been waiting for an hour.

QUIZ:

It has be been being snowing a lot this week.	Answer been
Have Has Are your brother and sister been getting along?	Answer Have
Rick 's s 've been studying hard this semester.	Answer 's
I'm tired because I 've has am been working out.	Answer 've
Julie has being is been has been living in Italy since May.	Answer has been
How long have you been teacher teaching taught the German.	Answer teaching
We have been watching TV for since by 3 hours.	Answer for
You have working worked been work too hard today.	Answer worked
Has it be been is raining since you arrived?	Answer been
My brother has been travelling since for by he finished school.	Answer since