Definition:
The
progressive form of the present perfect tense stresses the duration of a single
past-to-present action that has a beginning and an end.
Example:
1.I have been living here
since 1980.
(I
lived here until now.)
2.He has been writing letters
to his friends all this morning.
(He
has never stopped to write letters to his friends all this morning.)
3.We have been waiting for
you for two hours on end.(continue)
(We
waited for you until now.)
4.I have been reading for two hours.
(I
am still reading now.)
5.How long have you been learning
English?
(You
are still learning now.)
Comparison:
Present Perfect Progressive Tense not only emphasize on the constant action (never
stop), but also emphasize on shorter action or
temporality. (As to the action or
fact last for a long time. Generally speaking, it is better to use ¡§present perfect¡¨.
Example:
1. My parents have lived
in Taichung all their lives
2. My parents have been
living in Taichung all their lives.
(We consider that sentence 1 is better)
Reference:
If it appears ¡§frequency¡¨ or ¡§number¡¨
in the sentence, it will be error. It is better to use ¡§present perfect¡¨. Such as
following sentences are wrong:
1. He has been writing
four letters since this morning.(wrong)
Reverse: He has written four letters
since this morning.)
2. I have been knocking at
the door for five times.(wrong)
Reverse: I have knock at the door four
five times.)
3. He has been drinking
six cups of coffee.(wrong)
Reverse: He has drunk six cup of
coffee.
Important:
The present perfect progressive form does not occur with words like just, already, ever, never, finally.
Past Perfect Progressive Tense