Learn English – Present perfect continuous

perfect-aspectpresent-tenseprogressive-aspect

How are we to understand whether present perfect progressive implies that the action is still in progress, versus implying it has stopped just now or recently?

In simple sentences like these two,

• I'm tired [now] because I've been running.
• Why is the grass wet [now]? Has it been raining?

it's obvious that the actions are complete, but not in the following five sentences:

• I have been living in Paris for two weeks.
• I have been reading for two hours.
• I have been talking with Jane on the phone(since 5:30 for ten minutes).
• I have been doing my homework.(For an hour)
• I have been working in the garden (for two hours).

Best Answer

If you use the present perfect progressive with an expression of unfinished time (as in your last five sentences), then you imply that the action is continuing.

If there is no expression of unfinished time, then you imply the action finished some time in the past, but the effects are felt into the present.

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