We use it for things that started in the past, however, they still happening in the present.

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​How do we use it?

​Structure: Affirmative

​Ellos han estado trabajando por días en ese proyecto

​Structure: Negative

​Ella no ha estado estudiando ingles durante mucho tiempo

​Structure: Interrogative

¿Ha estado esperando mucho tiempo?

​Time prepositions

As this tense is used to express or emphasize the time (period) in which an action has occurred, we usually use "for" and "since" if we want to be specific about that:

1. I can't believe it's still raining. It's been raining for a week.
2. John has been working at the bank since 2003

​Time prepositions

In case we don't use a period of time, we can assume that these actions started "lately" or "recently"

1. He hasn't been studying enough
2. Have you been feeling ok lately?