Present Perfect Progressive

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For the present perfect progressive, use have or has + been + -ing verb.

Examples:    I have been studying English for 3 years. He has been learning to drive for 1 month.

When to Use the Present Perfect Progressive

This tense emphasizes time. In most cases, you can use either the present perfect or the present perfect progressive and your meaning will be about the same. 

Examples:    I have been studying English for 3 years. I have studied English for 3 years. 

Present Perfect Progressive: The speaker is emphasizing time. The speaker is definitely continuing to study English.
Present Perfect: The speaker is not as concerned with the length of time–the statement is more simple in that way. The speaker continues to study English, but also might stop at any time. 

Overall: use the present perfect progressive when time is important to your meaning. Particularly, use it when emphasizing both the past and the present–something that lasted or took a long time and may continue for a while.

Extra Tip: Americans often use the present perfect progressive to sound casual. 
I’ve been studying English sounds more casual than I have studied English.

Let’s compare the past, the present perfect and the present perfect progressive.

ExampleI was living at home during that time.I have lived at home for several years.I have been living at home since I graduated.
Meaningpast with some emphasis on timestatement about living at home–neutralstatement about living at home that emphasizes past and present time–the speaker is either proud of this or wanting to move
ExampleI was working at Microsoft before I got married.I have worked at Microsoft previously.I have been working at Microsoft for years.
Meaningpast with some emphasis on timestatement about the recent past or an accomplishmentpast and present time is emphasized–the speaker is either emphasizing the accomplishment or is ready to find a new company
ExampleI was working  on the project all morning.I have worked on the project all morning.I have been working on the project all morning.
Meaningpast with some emphasis on time–the speaker is done workingpast and into the present–the speaker is still workingpast and present time is emphasized–the speaker is still working
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