The Present Perfect Progressive

FORM: am / are / is + verb+ing

The present perfect progressive is often used to emphasize how long an activity has been in progress.

They have been eating for an hour. (I can’t believe it.)
Have we been walking for two days? (It has only been an hour but it feels a lot longer.)
I have been studying since 6 am. (This is taking forever.)

The present perfect progressive is also used to show a general activity in progress recently but not necessarily at this moment.

We have been thinking about emigrating to Canada.
I have been studying hard this semester.
I have been walking too much lately and my legs hurt.

With certain verbs (live, work, teach), there is little or no difference in the meaning of the two tenses when for or since are used.

I have lived in Cairo since 2005.
I have been living in Cairo since 2005.
I have worked at this university for two years.
I have been working at this university for two years.

Statement

{ I – You – We – They } have been sleeping for three hours.
{ He – She – It } has been sleeping for three hours.

Negative

{ I – You – We – They } have not been sleeping for three hours.
{ He – She – It } has not been sleeping for three hours.

Question

Have { I – you – we – they } been sleeping for three hours?
Has { he – she – it } been sleeping for three hours?

Short Answer

Yes, { I – you – we – they } have. / Yes, { he – she – it } has.
No, { I – you – we – they } haven’t. / No, { he – she – it } hasn’t.