1.The Present Perfect Progressive

The present perfect progressive is used to talk about the situations which started in the past and are still going on, or which have just stopped and have present results.

Sorry, I’m late. Have you been waiting long?

You look hot. – Yes, I’ve been running.

We cannot use the present perfect progressive in situations that refer to a finished period of time.

I’ve been working in the garden the whole morning. (It’s still morning.)

I was working in the garden the whole morning. (It’s evening now.)

2. The present perfect simple versus the present perfect progressive

Both the present perfect simple and the present perfect progressive can be used to talk about recent actions and situations that have present results. There is an important difference. The present perfect progressive focuses on the action itself, looking at it as a continuous activity (not necessarily finished). The simple present perfect, on the other hand, focuses on the idea of completion and present result.

I must have a bath. I’ve been working all afternoon. (Focus on continuous activity.)

I’ve planted a lot of rose bushes. (Focus on result.)

Who has been sleeping in my bed? (Emphasis on continuous activity – makes the action sound longer and annoying.)

I think she’s slept enough. I’ll wake her up. (Focus on result.)

Note the way simple and progressive perfect forms are translated into Russian.

I’ve been reading your book. – Я читал твою книгу. (Что делал?)

I’ve read your book. – Я прочитал твою книгу. (Что сделал?)

I’ve been reading your book for a week now. – Я читаю твою книгу уже неделю. (Что делаю?)

The present perfect progressive is used to talk about temporary actions and situations. When we talk about long-lasting or permanent situations we use the simple present perfect.

That man has been standing on the corner all day.

That castle has stood on the hill for 900 years.

However, both tenses are possible in such situations, with a slight difference in emphasis.

My parents have lived in this house for 30 years. (Just a fact.)

My parents have been living in this house for 30 years. (Emphasis on continuity, meaning to stress that they haven’t moved house even once.)

3. The present perfect progressive versus the present simple (progressive)

Both the present perfect progressive and the present simple (progressive) can be used to talk about actions which started in the past and are still going on. The difference is that the present perfect progressive has an ‘up to now’ focus, or is used to show how long the action has lasted.

I have French lessons every week. (I had them before, have now and will continue.)

I’ve been having French lessons every week, but I think I’ll make it twice a week from now on.

I’ve been having French lessons since last year. (NOT ‘I’m having’.)

4. The Past Perfect Progressive

The past perfect progressive is used to talk about actions or situations which had continued up to a given past moment, or shortly before it.

At that time we had been living in the caravan for 6 months.

When I found Mary, I could see she had been crying.

The past perfect progressive is used to talk about temporary actions or situations and to emphasize the continuity of an activity. The past perfect simple is used to talk about permanent situations or to emphasize the idea of completion.

My legs were stiff because I had been standing for a long time.

They lived in a castle that had stood on that hill for 800 years.

My mind was full of strange images because I had been reading science fiction. (Emphasis on continuous activity.)

I had read all my magazines, and I was beginning to get bored. (Emphasis on completion.)