The present perfect continuous talks about an activity that started in the past and continues up to now (or has just finished and left visible signs). The focus is on the duration and the process, not on the result.O present perfect continuous fala de uma atividade que começou no passado e continua até agora (ou acabou de terminar e deixou marcas). O foco está na duração e no processo, não no resultado.
B1 Form and uses
Use have or has, then been, then the main verb with -ing. In speech, we almost always use the short forms: I’ve, she’s, they’ve.Use have ou has, depois been e depois o verbo principal com -ing. Na fala, quase sempre usamos as formas contraídas: I’ve, she’s, they’ve.
| Affirmative | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|
| I’ve been working | I haven’t been working | Have I been working? |
| she’s been working | she hasn’t been working | Has she been working? |
| they’ve been working | they haven’t been working | Have they been working? |
1. Duration up to now
The activity started in the past and is still going on. We usually say how long with for, since or How long…?A atividade começou no passado e continua acontecendo. Normalmente dizemos há quanto tempo com for, since ou How long…?
- She’s been practising ballet for years. (Ela pratica balé há anos.)
- I’ve been listening to classical music since I was a kid. (Escuto música clássica desde criança.)
- How long have you been waiting? (Há quanto tempo você está esperando?)
- We’ve been living in this apartment (UK: flat) since March. (Moramos neste apartamento desde março.)
Watch the translation
In Portuguese, we use the present: “estudo inglês há dois anos”. In English, it’s I’ve been studying English for two years. ✗ I study English for two years.Em português, usamos o presente: “estudo inglês há dois anos” = I’ve been studying English for two years. ✗ I study English for two years.
2. Recent activity with visible results
The activity has just stopped, but we can see the evidence now: red eyes, a wet floor, an instrument on the table.A atividade acabou de parar, mas dá para ver as evidências agora: olhos vermelhos, chão molhado, um instrumento em cima da mesa.
- Your eyes are red. Have you been crying? (Seus olhos estão vermelhos. Você estava chorando?)
- The ground is wet. It’s been raining. (O chão está molhado. Estava chovendo.)
- Nora’s violin is on the table. Has she been practising? (O violino da Nora está na mesa. Ela estava praticando?)
- I’m sweaty because I’ve been running. (Estou suado porque estava correndo.)
3. Repeated actions lately
It also describes something we have done again and again in a recent period. In Portuguese, we often say “tenho feito”.Também descreve algo que fizemos várias vezes em um período recente. Em português, muitas vezes dizemos “tenho feito”.
- I’ve been going to the gym a lot lately. (Tenho ido muito à academia ultimamente.)
- We’ve been eating out too much these days. (Temos comido fora demais ultimamente.)
Signal words
| Expression | Português |
|---|---|
| for two months / for a while | há dois meses / há um tempo |
| since 2013 / since I was a kid | desde 2013 / desde criança |
| lately / recently | ultimamente / recentemente |
| all day / all morning | o dia todo / a manhã toda |
| these days | ultimamente, hoje em dia |
| How long…? | Há quanto tempo…? |
for + period
How long the activity has lasted.Quanto tempo a atividade já dura.
for three hours, for ages (há três horas, há séculos)
since + starting point
When the activity started.Quando a atividade começou.
since Monday, since 9 a.m. (desde segunda, desde as 9h)
B1+ Present perfect or present perfect continuous?
Both tenses connect the past to the present. The difference is the focus: the result or the activity itself.Os dois tempos ligam o passado ao presente. A diferença está no foco: o resultado ou a atividade em si.
Present Perfect
Focus on the result, the quantity or finished actions.Foco no resultado, na quantidade ou em ações concluídas.
I’ve written three emails. (Escrevi três e-mails.)
She’s already practised this week. (Ela já praticou esta semana.)
Present Perfect Continuous
Focus on the activity and the duration.Foco na atividade e na duração.
I’ve been writing emails all morning. (Passei a manhã escrevendo e-mails.)
She’s been practising for hours. (Ela está praticando há horas.)
Already, yet and ever
With already, yet, ever, never and with numbers (three times, two emails), use the present perfect: Have you ever studied piano? ✗ Have you ever been studying piano?Com already, yet, ever, never e com números (three times, two emails), use o present perfect: Have you ever studied piano? (Você já estudou piano?) ✗ Have you ever been studying piano?
With verbs like live, work, study, teach, both forms usually work with almost no difference:Com verbos como live, work, study, teach, as duas formas costumam funcionar quase sem diferença:
- I’ve lived here for ten years. / I’ve been living here for ten years. (Moro aqui há dez anos.)
- She’s worked at the bank since 2019. / She’s been working at the bank since 2019. (Ela trabalha no banco desde 2019.)
Stative verbs
State verbs stay in the present perfect: ✓ I’ve known her since 2010. ✗ I’ve been knowing her.Verbos de estado ficam no present perfect: ✓ I’ve known her since 2010. (Eu a conheço desde 2010.) ✗ I’ve been knowing her.
Common mistakes
Avoid these
✗ I study English for two years. ✓ I’ve been studying English for two years.“Estudo há dois anos” usa o present perfect continuous.
✗ I’ve been waiting since two hours. ✓ I’ve been waiting for two hours.For + período; since + ponto de partida.
✗ She’s been knowing him for years. ✓ She’s known him for years.Verbos de estado não vão para o continuous.
✗ I’ve been writing three emails. ✓ I’ve written three emails.Com quantidade, use o present perfect.
Quick summary
| Use | Example | Português |
|---|---|---|
| form | They’ve been playing. | Eles estão jogando (há um tempo). |
| duration up to now | I’ve been waiting for an hour. | Estou esperando há uma hora. |
| visible results | It’s been snowing. | Estava nevando. |
| repeated lately | I’ve been sleeping badly. | Tenho dormido mal. |
| question | How long have you been living here? | Há quanto tempo você mora aqui? |
| result or number: present perfect | I’ve read two books. | Li dois livros. |
| stative verb: present perfect | We’ve known each other since school. | Nós nos conhecemos desde a escola. |
Practice time
Quiz