Is it snowing?
No, but the house is under the snow.
It has been snowing.
The present perfect continuous is used for an activity that has recently stopped or just stopped: there is a connection with now
examples:
- You look tired. Have you been working till now?
- I've been talking to Paul, about our situation at work, and he agrees with me
- I've been reading this book, utill now.
- How long have you been smoking for?
The present perfect continuous is used with expressions like: how long, for, since.
The activity is still happening or it has just stopped.
- How long have you been playing that videogame, today?
- How long have you been living in London for?
- Matt! where have you been? I have been looking for you for the last hour!
compare this example:
Thom is building a brick wall. (he is building a wall now)
Thom has been building a wall (he started yesterday, and now he is still working on it)
take a look at this example:
How long have we been using oil?
The first oil well was in Pennsylvania in 1859.
We have been using oil for 152 years.
also
- Do you know each other well?
- Yes, we have been knowing each other for a long time!
