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The
present perfect
progressive tense has several
different
uses. One is to show an action that began
in the past
and that is still continuing now. When the
present perfect
progressive is used in this way, the
length of the continuing activity
is emphasized; this
usage also suggests that the action has
continued with
no interruption from its beginning until
the present.
The "time words" for and since are common with
this use of
the present perfect progressive.
Another use of the present
perfect progressive is without for,
since, or any other time expression:
Joe has been studying at State
University.
The baby has been crying.
I've been driving.
When the present perfect progressive
is used in this way, it suggests that the activity
was happening (in progress) in the very recent past:
Joe has been studying at State
University. (Joe isn't studying there now, but
he was studying there in the very recent
past.)
The baby has been crying.
(The baby isn't crying now, but she / he was crying in the very recent past.)
I've been driving. (I'm not
driving now, but I was driving in the very recent
past.)
Here are some more examples
to make this use clearer:
Sara's eyes are very red.
Has she been crying?
Jim seems to be tired all
the time. I think he's been working too hard.
Has Bob been attending his
classes? I haven't seen him on campus for at least a week.
Susan's car is in the shop,
so she's been taking the bus to work.
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Special
Note:
When the present present perfect
progressive is used in this way, the "time words"
recently and lately are common:
Sara has been crying a lot
lately. What's wrong?
Jim's very tired because he's
been working too hard recently.
Where's Bob? He hasn't been
attending his classes lately.
Why has Susan been taking
the bus to work recently? Is there something wrong with her
car?
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