Grammar · Free lesson
I’ve been working: an activity continuing until now
You started planting at nine. It is eleven, and you are still working in the garden. How do you connect those two hours to now?
Professor Scott MendozaThe short answer
For an activity that started earlier and is still continuing, use have/has been + -ing: “We’ve been planting flowers for two hours.” This connects the earlier work to now.
Show the activity’s path from an earlier start to now.
Use have with I, you, we and they; use has with he, she and it. Then add been and the -ing activity. For gives a duration; since gives a starting point. “I am planting” describes the current activity but does not itself connect an earlier start to now.
One activity, two time expressions
We’ve been planting flowers for two hours.
We’ve been planting flowers since nine.
Maya has been watering the trees all morning.
Been belongs in the pattern: “She has been working,” not “She has working.”
Build the activity timeline
Choose the activity pattern
We have been planting flowers ...
Connect the time
... for two hours. / ... since nine.
Try it now
Connect the activity to now
Read all answers and explanations
Choose the complete continuous-perfect form.
We have been planting flowers for two hours.Have + been + planting supplies all three parts. The other choices omit been or use the base form plant.
Complete: Maya ___ been watering the trees all morning.
hasMaya takes has. Is been does not form this tense, and have does not agree with Maya.
The work began two hours ago and is still continuing. Choose the duration phrase.
We’ve been working for two hours.For takes a length of time. Since would take a starting point, such as nine o’clock.
Put it into practice
Keep the continuing activity clear
Maya started earlier and is still working. Repair the verb pattern.
Maya has watering the trees since nine.
See a model answer
Maya has been watering the trees since nine.
Since nine supplies the starting point; has been watering presents the activity continuing from then.
A little more clarity
Common questions
A few useful details before you move on.
Does it always mean the activity is still happening?
No. It can describe recent activity with a present result. Use the situation to decide whether the activity continues.
My hands are dirty because I’ve been planting flowers.
Can I use the simple perfect instead?
Sometimes. The simple perfect often emphasizes completion or quantity, while the continuous emphasizes the activity. Some verbs allow both with a similar continuing meaning.
We’ve planted twenty flowers today.
Take it into your day
Have/has been + -ing can connect an ongoing activity to its earlier start.
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