The present perfect continuous is what we use when we want to talk about an activity that's recently stopped and that has some kind of connection with the present time, now. For example, Diarmuid sees Helen covered in paint now so asks the question: Diarmuid: What have you been doing? Helen has just recently stopped working in the kitchen so she says: Helen: I've been decorating the kitchen. To form the present perfect continuous, we use the present form of the verb "to have" - I have, she has, we have - followed by 'been', followed by the present participle of the main verb, which is the verb plus 'ing'; painting, decorating, working. In informal spoken English, we use contractions so we say; 'I've', 'you've', 'she's' etc. Listen again: Helen: I've been decorating the kitchen. In questions however, we don't always contractions: Diarmuid: What have you been doing? So, to recap then: when you want to talk about an activity that's recently stopped or just stopped and that has a connection with the present time, we use the present perfect continuous. And you form that with 'have' or 'has', followed by 'been', followed by the present participle. That's all from me, good luck with your grammar challenge! ...
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