We have learned in the previous lessons that the present perfect continuous is used in two ways.

1. We use it to talk about something that started in the past, but it still happening now.

• I have been studying for 3 hours.

2. We can also use the present perfect continuous tense to talk about actions that have just finished when we can still see the results.

• She has been crying. Her eye make-up is smeared and her eyes are swollen.

In the previous lesson, we studied how to make sentences. In this lesson, we will look at how to make yes/no questions.

Since these questions are related to the present perfect, they will start with "have/has".

Have/Has + subject + been + verb(-ing)…?

• Have you been studying for 3 hours?
• Have you been crying?
• Has she been talking on the phone all night?
• Has he been playing video games all day?
• Have you been working here since 1986?

Since these are yes/no questions, there are short and long answers.

Have you been cooking all day?

• Yes, I have been cooking all day.
• Yes, I have been.
• Yes, I have.
• Yes.

Has she been crying?

• No, she has not been crying.
• No, she hasn't been.
• No, she hasn't.
• No.

Example Questions

• Have you been working with her for a long time?
• Have you been waiting for a long time?
• Have you been watching TV since I left?
• Have we been waiting for 2 hours?
• Have we been walking for more than an hour?
• Have they been fighting since I left?
• Have they been fighting?
• Have they been drinking alcohol?
• Have you been exercising?
• Have you been stealing my chips when I am not looking?


• Has she been learning English here for a long time?
• Has he been dating her since high school?
• Has Nick been cooking since he got home from work?
• Has he been playing video games all day?
• Has the store been selling this product for a long time?
• Has he been lying to me?
• Has she been looking for a new job?
• Has he been smoking again?
• Has the boy been stealing cookies from the cookie jar?
• Has it been raining?

English Conversation 1

A) Have you been waiting for long?
B) I have been waiting for about 30 minutes.
A) Oh my gosh! I am so sorry. I forgot what time we were meeting.
B) It is okay. I'm glad that you are here now.

English Conversation 2

A) Has our son been smoking?
B) I don't think so. Why do you ask that?
A) He kind of smells like cigarettes.
B) I will talk to him and see if I can find out the truth.

Practice speaking English fluently by finishing the questions below and then practice making your own questions. It is a simple and effective way to learn English.

Tip: Say the questions aloud. This will help you practice speaking English and improve your pronunciation and fluency.

Have you been _______________?
Have you been _______________ since this morning?
Has she been _______________?
Has he been _______________ for the last two hours?
Have they been _______________ all day?
Have you been _______________ for _______________?
Has the restaurant been _______________ since _______________?
Have they been _______________ since_______________?