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
12.1 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?)
12.2 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 ---
12.3 Put in for or since.
1. It's been raining since lunchtime.
2. Tom's father has been doing the same job
--- 20 years.
3. Have you been learning English ---a long
time?
4. Sarah has lived in London --- 1985.
5. --- Christmas, the weather has been quite
good.
6. Please hurry up! We've been waiting --- an
hour.
7. Kevin has been looking for a job --- he
left school.
8. The house is very dirty. We haven't
cleaned it --- ages.
9. I haven't had a good meal --- last
Tuesday.
12.4 Write BS sentences using the words in
brackets.
1. A: Do you often go on holiday?
B: (no/five years) No, I haven't had a
holiday for five years.
2. A: Do you often eat in restaurants?
B: (no/ages) No, I ---
3. A: Do you often see Sarah?
B: (no/about a month) ---
4. A: Do you often go to the cinema?
B: (no/a long time) ---
Now write B's answers again. This time use
It's ... since...
5. (1) No, it's five years since I had a
holiday.
6. (2) No, it's ---
7. (3) No, ---
8. (4)
---
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