UNIT12. When ...? and How long ...? For and since

A. Compare When...? (+ past simple) and How long...? (+ present perfect):

A: When did it start raining?

B: It started raining an hour ago/at 1 o'clock.

A: How long has it been raining?

B: It's been raining for an hour/since 1 o'clock.

A: When did Joe and Carol first meet?

B: They first met a long time ago/when they were at school.

A: How long have Joe and Carol known each other?

B: They've known each other for a long time./since they were at school.

B. We use both for and since to say how long something has been happening.

We use for when we say a period of time (two hours, six weeks etc.):

* I've been waiting for two hours.

for two hours

two hours ago -> now

two hours/a week/20 minutes/50 years/five days/a long time/six months/ages

* Sally's been working here for six months. (not 'since six months')

* I haven't seen Tom for three days. (not 'since three days')

We use since when we say the start of a period (8 o'clock, Monday, 1985 etc.):

* I've been waiting since 8 o'clock.

since 8 o'clock

8 o'clock -> now

since

8 o'clock/1977/Monday/Christmas/12 May/lunchtime/April/they were at school

* Sally's been working here since April. (= from April until now)

* I haven't seen Tom since Monday. (= from Monday until now)

It is possible to leave out for (but not usually in negative sentences):

* They've been married (for) ten years. (with or without for)

* They haven't had a holiday for ten years. (you must use for)

We do not use for + all... (all day/all my life etc.):

* I've lived here all my life. (not 'for all my life')

C. We say 'It's (a long time/two years etc.) since something happened':

* It's two years since I last saw Joe. (= I haven't seen Joe for two years/the last time I saw Joe was two years ago)

* It's ages since we went to the cinema. (= We haven't been to the cinema for ages)

The question is How long is it since...?

* How long is it since you last saw Joe? (= When did you last see Joe?)

* How long is it since Mrs Hill died? (= When did Mrs Hill die?)

EXERCISES

Write questions with how long and when.

1. It's raining.

(how long?) How long has it been raining?

(when?) When did it start raining?

2. Kate is learning Italian.

(how long/learn?)

(when/start/learn?)

3. I know Martin.

(how long/know?)

(when/first/meet?)

4. Bob and Alice are married.

(how long?)

(when?)

Read the situations and complete the sentences beginning in the way shown.

1. (It's raining now. It's been raining since lunchtime.) It started raining at lunchtime.

2. (Ann and I are friends. We first met years ago.) We've known each other for years.

3. (Mark is ill. He became ill on Sunday.) He has ---

4. (Mark is ill. He became ill a few days ago.) He has ---

5. (Sarah is married. She's been married for two years.) She got ---

6. (You've got a camera. You bought it ten years ago.) I've ---

7. (Sue has been in France for the last three weeks.) She went ---

8. (You're working in a hotel. You started in June.) I've ---

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