Level B1

Present Perfect Continuous

The wall is half painted. She has been painting it.

Look: The wall is half painted. She has been painting it. The activity began before now; has been painting is a three-word form.

Forms

• The wall is half painted. She has been painting it. — has been plus the -ing form for an activity that began before now
• The letter is unfinished. She has been writing it. — the same three words with another verb
• The room is half clean. She has been cleaning it. — he, she and it take has

A common mistake

Wrong: He has living there.

Right: He has been living there.

So many people say He has living there, but been is missing. We say: He has been living there.

More examples

The meal is half cooked. She has been cooking it.

Cooking works the same way: The meal is half cooked. She has been cooking it.

She has been watching the door. Her work is unfinished.

And so does watching: She has been watching the door. Her work is unfinished.