Present Perfect Continuous

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We use the Present Perfect Continuous (Progressive) to express actions that started in the past and continue in the present. This tense is also used to talk about actions which began in the past and have recently stopped.

Use

Actions that started in the past and continue in the present
Actions that have recently stopped

Time expressions

Since and for

Since and for are very common time expressions used with the Present Perfect Continuous. We use for with a period of time. Example:

I have been living here for 20 years.

When talking about a starting point, we use since with a point in time.

I have been living here since 1960.

More about time expressions

Remember that in the Present Perfect Continuous you cannot use time expressions such as:

two months ago
one year ago
last week
yesterday
when I was five years old

If you're wondering why it's incorrect to use them, it's because they specify accurately when something happened (see: Use 1). You can, however, use time expressions such as:

already
yet
before
never
recently
at last
ever
just
lately

The difference between the Present Perfect Simple and the Present Perfect Continuous. Read here

Form

Positive sentences:

A sentence in the Present Perfect Continuous consists of:

A subject
A verb in the -ing form (present participle)
Two auxiliary verbs (been and have)

Subject	+	Auxiliary verb	+	Auxiliary verb	+	Verb + ing
I/a dog etc.	+	has/have	+	been	+	swimming etc.

My friend has been sleeping for five hours (Use 2) is still sleeping or she has just woken up).

Examples		Use
	She's (=she HAS) been crying in her room for half an hour now	(Use 1)
	We've been waiting for a good offer to buy a car since March	(Use 1)
	I've been waiting for you to come (but now you're back!)	(Use 2)

Questions (interrogative sentences):

Auxiliary verb	+	Subject	+	Auxiliary verb	+	Verb + ing
has/have	+	I/a dog/ a man etc.	+	been	+	swimming etc.

Examples		Use
	Have you been running?	(Use 2)
	Has Tom been walking the dog?	(Use 2)
	How long have you been learning English?	(Use 1)
	Q: What have you been doing there? A: I've been eating	(Use 1 or Use 2)

Negative sentences:

Subject	+	Auxiliary verb + not	+	Auxiliary verb	+	Verb + ing
I/a dog, a womanetc.	+	hasn't / haven't	+	been	+	swimming, going etc.

Examples		Use
	I haven't been sleeping very well recently	(Use 1)
	I haven't been waiting for 50 minutes	(Use 2)
	John hasn't been using his A drive for a long time	(Use 1)