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')
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) ---
12.1
2 How long has she been learning Italian? When did she start learning Italian?
3 How long have you known him/... known Martin? When did you first meet (him/Martin)?
4 How long have they been married? When did they get married? (When did they marry? is possible but less usual)
12.2
3 been ill since Sunday
4 been ill for a few days
5 married two years ago
6 had it for ten years/had this camera for ten years
7 to France three weeks ago
8 been working in a hotel since June
12.3
2 for
3 for
4 since
5 Since
6 for
7 since
8 for
9 since
12.4
2 No, I haven't eaten in a restaurant for ages.
3 No, I haven't seen Sarah for about a month./No, I haven't seen her for.
4 No, I haven't been to the cinema for a long time.
6 No, it's ages since I (last) ate in a restaurant.
7 No, it's about a month since I (last) saw Sarah.
8 No, it's a long time since I (last) went to the cinema.
