Confusion using Present continuous & Present perfect continuous.

[Duan]

1] Present Continuous tense is used to show that action is in progress at the time of speaking. 2] It is also used for action that happening about this time, but not necessarily at the moment of speaking.
e.g for 2] use
A] We are working on this issue.
B] She is practicing for her tournament very hard.
C] I am searching for the big house in Mumbai.
D] She is studying Engineering.

Now compare these with following sentences in Present perfect tense.

E] We have been working on this issue.
F] She has been practicing for her tournament very hard.
G] I have been searching for the big house in Mumbai.
H] She has been studying Engineering.


Now confusion is when to use Present continuous & when to use Present perfect continuous.

 

[Matthew Wai]

We are working on this issue.

We are working on this issue now.

We have been working on this issue.

We have been working on this issue for a period of time.

Not a teacher.

 

[Duan]

Suppose I am talking with my friend & I say...
I am searching for a house in Mumbai. (But at this moment I am talking with him & not searching)
or
I have been searching for a house. (Is it necessary here to specify time expressions such as "since" or "for”? or I can simply say this without time expressions.)

Please clarify. Also tell me in detail when & in what context these tenses are used.

 

[Matthew Wai]

I haven't seen a grammar rule requiring that a time expression must be used with the present perfect continuous, but native speakers might find it more natural to use it.

I am neither a native speaker nor a teacher.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Suppose I am talking with my friend & I say...
I am searching for a house in Mumbai. (But at this moment I am talking with him & not searching)
or
I have been searching for a house. (Is it necessary here to specify time expressions such as "since" or "for”? or I can simply say this without time expressions.)

Please clarify. Also tell me in detail when & in what context these tenses are used.

Both are fine as written. The second implies that you have been searching for a while. You can add a phrase with "since" or "for" to tell the listener how long a while, but it isn't necessary.

 

[Duan]

If I simply say "He has been here" (without time expression), does it mean that he is here for a while & still here?

 

[Matthew Wai]

Rover_KE has already answered you in https://www.usingenglish.com/forum/...erfect-tense?p=1149601&viewfull=1#post1149601

Not a teacher.