Unit 11 How long have you (been) ... ?

A Study this example situation:

We use the present perfect to talk about something that began in the past and still continues now. Compare the present and the present perfect:

• Amy is in hospital.

but She has been in hospital since Monday, (not 'Amy is in hospital since Monday')

• We know each other very well.

but We have known each other for a long time, (not 'we know')

• Are you waiting for somebody?

but How long have you been waiting?

B

I have been doing something (present perfect continuous) = 'I started doing something in the past and I am still doing it (or have just stopped)':

• I've been learning English for a long time. (not 'I am learning')

• Sorry I'm late. Have you been waiting long?

• It's been raining since I got up this morning.

The action can be a repeated action:

• 'How long have you been driving?' 'Since I was 17.'

C

I have done (simple) or I have been doing (continuous)

The continuous is more usual with how long, since and for (see also Unit 10B):

• I've been learning English for a long time, (not usually 'I've learnt')

You can normally use either the continuous or simple with live and work:

• John has been living / has lived in London for a long time.

• How long have you been working / have you worked here?
But we use the simple with always:

• John has always lived in London, (not 'has always been living')

Youcan use the continuous or the simple for actions repeated over a long period:

· I've been collecting / I've collected stamps since I was a child.

Some verbs (for example, know/like/believe) are not normally used in the continuous:

· How long have you known Jane? (not 'have you been knowing')

· I've had a pain in my stomach since I got up this morning.
For a list of these verbs, see Unit 4 A. For have see Unit 17.

D

We use the present perfect simple in negative sentences like these:

· I haven't seen Tom since Monday. (= Monday was the last time I saw him)

· Jane hasn't phoned me for two weeks. (= the last time she phoned was two weeks ago)

Exercises

11.1 Are the underlined verbs right or wrong? Correct them if they are wrong.

1 Bob is a friend of mine. I know him very well.... RIGHT......................................

2 Bob is a friend of mine. I know him for a long time.... WRONG.... I’ve known him..

3 Sue and Alan are married since July...................................................................

4 The weather is awful. It's raining again...............................................................

5 The weather is awful. It's raining all day............................................................

6 I like your house. How long are you living there?...............................................

7 Graham is working in a shop for the last few months.........................................

8 I'm going to Paris tomorrow. I'm staying there until next Friday........................

9 'Do you still smoke?' 'No, I gave it up. I don't smoke for years.'........................

10 That's a very old bicycle. How long do you have it?..........................................

11.2 Read the situations and write questions from the words in brackets.

1 John tells you that his mother is in hospital. You ask him:

(how long / be / in hospital?).... How long has your mother been in hospital?.......

2 You meet a woman who tells you that she teaches English. You ask her:

(how long / teach English?)..................................................................................

3 You know that Jane is a good friend of Carol's. You ask Jane:

(how long / know / Carol?)...................................................................................

4 Your friend's brother went to Australia some time ago and he's still there. You ask your friend:

(how long / be / in Australia?).............................................................................

5 Tim always wears the same jacket. It's a very old jacket. You ask him:

(how long / have / that jacket?).............................................................................

6 You are talking to a friend about Alan. Alan now works at the airport. You ask your friend:
(how long / work / at the airport?).......................................................................

7 A friend of yours is having driving lessons. You ask him:

(how long / have / driving lessons?).....................................................................

8 You meet somebody on a train. She tells you that she lives in Glasgow. You ask her:
(always / live / in Glasgow?)................................................................................

11.3 Complete B’s answers to A’s questions.

Unit 12 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 along time.

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