Present Perfect Continuous

We use the present perfect continuous:

· to put emphasis on the duration of an action which started in the past and continues up to the present. We have been working on this project all morning.

· for an action which started in the past and lasted for some time. It may still be continuing, or have finished but left a result still visible in the present. She's tired because she has been working very hard lately.

· to express anger, irritation or annoyance. She has been reading my newspaper without asking me.

· for repeated actions in the past continuing to the present. He has lost weight because he has been going to the gym every day

Time expressions used with the present perfect (simple and continuous):

since (= from a starting point in the past) is used with the present perfect (simple and continuous). I haven't seen Paul since we left school.

for (= over a period of time) is used with the present perfect (simple and continuous). They've been working on the project for months.

Note: with the verbs live, work, teach and feel we can use the present perfect or the present perfect continuous with no difference in meaning. He has lived/has been living in Manchester for the last six years.

GRAMMAR EXTRA: We use the present perfect tense with the following structures: It/this/that is the first/thesecond/the best/the only/the worst...

It’s the first time I’ve ever had to write such a long assignment.

That’s the sixth cup of coffee you’ve had today.