something is happening now at this moment of speaking (the sun isshining at the moment)
a situation is temporary, not necessarily occurring at the moment of speaking (I amreading a book by Hilary Mantel)
expressing annoyance at a frequently repeated action (you are always leaving the lights on!)
when to use the Present Perfect Continuous
for an action which has started in the past, gone on up to the present and which has just finished or which continues past the time of speaking (I have beenswimming. (= my hair is still wet) / I have beenwaiting for two hours already.) signal words: for, since, always, lately, recently (the present perfect continuous can also express this type of action without a time expression)
for a seemingly continuous and repeated action without mentioning the number of times it has been done (Elisa hasbeenringing him since breakfast. He must have turned his phone off.)
exercises
Present Continuous (I am going) and Present Perfect Continuous (I have been going)
exercise 1: fill in the correct verb form of the present continuous and the present perfect continuous
exercise 2: fill in the correct verb form of the present continuous and the present perfect continuous
useful pages
exercises for practising the Present Continuous (I am going)
exercises for practising the Present Perfect Continuous (I have been going)