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Unit 11 · Present perfect and past

How long have you (been) ... ?

Study

A

Dan and Kate are married. They got married exactly 20 years ago, so today is their 20th wedding anniversary.

›

They have been married for 20 years.

We say: They are married. (present)

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but How long have they been married? (not How long are they married?) They have been married for 20 years. (not They are married for 20 years)

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

Compare the present and present perfect:

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Paul is in hospital. but He's been in hospital since Monday. (= He has been …) (not Paul is in hospital since Monday)

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We know each other very well. but We've known each other for a long time. (not We know)

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Do they have a car? but How long have they had their car?

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She's waiting for somebody. but She hasn't been waiting very long.

B

I've known / I've had / I've lived etc. is the present perfect simple. I've been learning / I've been waiting etc. is the present perfect continuous.

When we ask or say 'how long', the continuous is more usual (see Unit 10):

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I've been learning English since January.

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It's been raining all morning.

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Richard has been doing the same job for 20 years.

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

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

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

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I've had these shoes for ages. (not I've been having)

See also Units 4A and 10C. For have, see Unit 17.

C

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

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Julia has been living in this house for a long time. or Julia has lived …

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How long have you been working here? or How long have you worked here?

But we use the simple (have lived etc.) with always:

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I've always lived in the country. (not always been living)

D

We say 'I haven't (done something) since/for …' (present perfect simple):

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

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Sarah hasn't phoned for ages. (= the last time she phoned was ages ago)

Exercises (3)

0/3 exercises checked
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11.1

Which is right?

  1. 1
    Ben is a friend of mine.
  2. 2
    I like your house. How long do you
  3. 3
    You'll need an umbrella if you go out now.
  4. 4
    The weather
  5. 5
    I'm sorry I'm late.
  6. 6
    We've moved. We're
  7. 7
    I met Maria only recently. I
  8. 8
    Lisa is in Germany.
  9. 9
    That's a very old bike. How long do you
  10. 10
    I'm not feeling good. I'm
11.2

Read the situations and write questions using the words in brackets.

  1. 1
    A friend tells you that Paul is in hospital. You ask him: (how long / Paul / hospital?)
    How long has Paul been in hospital?example
  2. 2
    You know that Jane is a good friend of Katherine's. You ask Jane: (how long / you / know / Katherine?)
  3. 3
    Your friend's sister went to Australia some time ago and she's still there. You ask your friend: (how long / sister / in Australia?)
  4. 4
    You meet a woman who tells you that she teaches English. You ask her: (how long / you / teach / English?)
  5. 5
    Tom always wears the same jacket. It's very old. You ask him: (how long / you / have / that jacket?)
  6. 6
    You are talking to a friend about Joe, who now works at the airport. You ask your friend: (how long / Joe / work / airport?)
  7. 7
    You meet somebody on a plane. She says that she lives in Chicago. You ask her: (you / always / live / in Chicago?)
11.3

Complete B's answers to A's questions.

  1. 1
    A: Paul is in hospital, isn't he?
    B: Yes, he in hospital since Monday.example
  2. 2
    A: Do you see Lisa very often?
    B: No, I her for three months.example
  3. 3
    A: Is Paul married?
    B: Yes, he married for ten years.
  4. 4
    A: Is Amy married?
    B: Yes, she married to a German guy.
  5. 5
    A: Do you still play tennis?
    B: No, I tennis for years.
  6. 6
    A: Are you waiting for the bus?
    B: Yes, I for about 20 minutes.
  7. 7
    A: You know Mel, don't you?
    B: Yes, we each other a long time.
  8. 8
    A: Jack is never ill, is he?
    B: No, he ill since I've known him.
  9. 9
    A: Martin lives in Italy, doesn't he?
    B: Yes, he in Milan.
  10. 10
    A: Sue lives in Berlin, doesn't she?
    B: Yes, she in Berlin for many years.
  11. 11
    A: Is Joe watching TV?
    B: Yes, he TV all evening.
  12. 12
    A: Do you watch TV a lot?
    B: No, I TV since last weekend.
  13. 13
    A: Do you have a headache?
    B: Yes, I a headache all morning.
  14. 14
    A: Do you go to the cinema a lot?
    B: No, I to the cinema for ages.
  15. 15
    A: Would you like to go to New York one day?
    B: Yes, I to go to New York. (use always / want)