Happening up to This Moment
Present Perfect Continuous
The present perfect continuous places the emphasis on the duration of a current activity. It is used to express either when an action in progress began, or the length of an action in progress. The present perfect continuous is never used with stative verbs.
Example:
How long has the deferred interested been acquiring?
They've been talking about convertibility of funds ever since dawn.
I've been working on the appraisal since six this morning. That's why you have it already.
Positive Form:
Subject + have + been + 'ing' form of verb + (object(s)) + since / for + time expression
European nations have been working towards globalization for at least 5 years.
Negative Form:
Subject + have + not + been + 'ing' form of verb + (object(s)) + since / for + time expression
She hasn't been maintaining the accounts on behalf of the shareholders.
Question Form:
(Question Word) + have + subject + been + 'ing' form of verb?
How long have we been using paper invoicing?
Examples of What Caused Something
The present perfect continuous is often used to express the action that caused a present result.
Example:
I've been working on the appraisal since six this morning. That's why you have it already.
We have been working overtime for the past week so your house appraisal is finally complete.
Present Perfect Contrasted with Present Perfect Continuous
The present perfect and present perfect continuous are both used to express the duration of an activity that begins in the past and continues into the present. Either form is used with general activities, although the use of the present perfect continuous can indicate that an activity is about to change. The present perfect continuous describes the duration of a current activity and tends to be used with more specific action verbs.
Example of Present Perfect:
XYZ corporation has done better than predicted allowing for a large stock dividend this quarter.
He has been studying electronic banking for more than six months.
Example of Present Perfect Continuous:
How long has the bank customer been calculating his net assets?
How long have we been using paper invoicing?
When emphasizing the duration of the current action, use the present perfect continuous.
Example:
They've been arguing about the limited liability company for two hours.
They have been calculating the currency convertibility in the meeting.
The present perfect continuous conveys the length of an activity, whereas the present perfect can also be used to relate the quantity, or amount finished up to the present moment in time.
Example:
I've finally identified a cash cow product.
The cash cow product has done well considering the economy.