ILGUR: Italian Language, Grammar and Usage Resource

The present perfect continuous (in English: I have been reading, I have been studying, etc.) does not exist in Italian as a separate tense. Use the present tense + da + time expression when you wish to express “for” a length of time or “since” as an equivalent:

Studio italiano da cinque anni.
I have been studying Italian for 5 years.

Non leggo il giornale da due settimane.
I have not been reading the newspapers for two weeks.

Da sabato preparo per la festa.
I have been preparing for the party since Saturday.

You can also express the present perfect continuous using this construction, essere + length of time + che + present tense:

Sono cinque anni che studio italiano.
I have been studying Italian for five years.

Sono due settimane che non leggo il giornale.
I have not been reading the paper for two weeks.

IMPORTANT: When using present tense + da constructions, they imply that the action is still continuing even today. If the action you are describing began in the past and is no longer happening today, then a different set of rules apply (see below).

If the action began and ended in the past and is no longer happening, then use this construction: verb in the past tense + per + length of time:

Ho mangiato bene per due anni. Adesso è troppo difficile.
I ate well for two years. Now it is too difficult.

Ho studiato inglese per due mesi, ma preferisco studiare tedesco.
I studied English for two months, but I prefer to study German.

Notice the difference between these two constructions:

Gioco al calcio da 10 anni.
I have been playing soccer for 10 years. (and still am)

Ho giocato al calcio per 10 anni.
I played soccer for 10 years. (I played for 10 years but have since stopped)

To ask how long something has been going on (and still is), use this construction, Da quanto tempo + verb in the present tense:

Da quanto tempo vai in palestra?
How long have you been going to the gym?

Vado in palestra da sei mesi.
I have been going to the gym for six months.

Da quanto tempo mangi bene?
How long have you been eating right?

Mangio bene da un anno.
I have been eating right for a year.

To ask how long something had been going on but not longer is, use this construction: Per quanto tempo + past tense

Per quanto tempo sei andato in palestra?
How long did you go to the gym?

Sono andato in palestra per sei mesi.
I went to the gym for six months.