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Present perfect progressive
A close relative of the present perfect, the present perfect progressive, emphasizes the continuation of a single action: it indicates that the action is ongoing or continuing at the moment one is speaking. The form -- relatively complicated -- consists of the past auxiliary "to have" + "been" (the past participle of "to be") + the present participle of the principal verb. For example:
- I have been trying to reach you all afternoon.
- They have been working hard to finish their project.
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