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Unit 12 · Present perfect and past

for and since when ... ? and how long ... ?

Study

A

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

We use for + a period of time:

›

We’ve been waiting for two hours.

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

Sally has been working here for six months. (not since six months)

›

I haven’t seen Tom for three days.

We use since + the start of a period:

›

We’ve been waiting since 8 o’clock.

since
8 o’clock April lunchtime
Monday 2001 we arrived
12 May Christmas I got up
›

Sally has been working here since April. (= from April until now)

›

I haven’t seen Tom since Monday.

B

We often leave out for (but not usually in negative sentences):

›

They’ve been married for ten years. or They’ve been married ten years.

›

They haven’t had a holiday for ten years. (you need for)

You can use in instead of for in negative sentences (I haven’t … etc.):

›

They haven’t had a holiday in ten years. (= for ten years)

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

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

›

A: How long have they known each other? B: They’ve known each other for a long time. / since they were at school.

D

We say:

it’s (= it is) a long time since something happened
or it’s been (= it has been) six months (etc.)
›

It’s two years since I last saw Joe. or It’s been two years since … (= I haven’t seen Joe for two years)

›

It’s ages since we went to the cinema. or It’s been ages since … (= We haven’t been to the cinema for ages)

›

How long is it since Mrs Hill died? or How long has it been since … (= when did she die?)

→ How long have you (been) … ? ➜ Unit 11

Exercises (4)

0/4 exercises checked
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12.1

Write for or since.

  1. 1
    It’s been raining lunchtime.example
  2. 2
    Paul has lived in Brazil ten years.
  3. 3
    I’m tired of waiting. We’ve been sitting here an hour.
  4. 4
    Kevin has been looking for a job he left school.
  5. 5
    I haven’t been to a party ages.
  6. 6
    I wonder where Joe is. I haven’t seen him last week.
  7. 7
    Jane is away on holiday. She’s been away Friday.
  8. 8
    The weather is dry. It hasn’t rained a few weeks.
12.2

Look at each answer and choose the right question.

  1. 1
    How long have they been married ? When did they get married?
    Ten years ago. example
  2. 2
    How long have you had this car? When did you buy this car?
    About five years.
  3. 3
    How long have you been waiting? When did you get here?
    Only a few minutes.
  4. 4
    How long have you been doing your course? When did your course start?
    September.
  5. 5
    How long has Anna been in London? When did Anna arrive in London?
    Last week.
  6. 6
    How long have you known each other? When did you first meet each other?
    A long time.
12.3

Read the situations and complete the sentences.

  1. 1
    It’s raining. It’s been raining since lunchtime. It at lunchtime.example
  2. 2
    Ann and Jess are friends. They first met years ago. They’ve known each other for years.
  3. 3
    Mark is unwell. He became ill on Sunday. He has Sunday.
  4. 4
    Sarah is married. She’s been married for a year. She got .
  5. 5
    You have a headache. It started when you woke up. I’ve I woke up.
  6. 6
    Sue is in a meeting at work. It’s been going on since 9 o’clock. The meeting at 9 o’clock.
  7. 7
    You’re working in a hotel. You started working there six months ago. I’ve been .
  8. 8
    Kate is learning Japanese. She’s been doing this for a long time. Kate started .
12.4

Complete B’s sentences.

  1. 1
    Do you often go on holiday?
    No, I five years.example
  2. 2
    Have you seen Lisa recently?
    No, I about a month.
  3. 3
    Do you still go swimming regularly?
    No, I a long time.
  4. 4
    Do you still ride a bike these days?
    No, I ages.
  5. 5
    Now write B’s answers again. This time use It’s . . . since . . . .
    No, I last had a holiday.example
  6. 6
    (2)
    No, I (last) saw Lisa/her.
  7. 7
    (3)
    No, I (last) went swimming.
  8. 8
    (4)
    No, I (last) rode a bike.