Ampersand Lab

Foundation grammar · Lesson 18 · A2

How long have you ... ? (present perfect 4)

Use the present perfect (have been, have lived, have known) or the present perfect continuous (have been + -ing) to say how long a situation has continued from the past until now.

Start the lesson

12Steps · about 23 minutes

In this lesson

is and has beenA6 screens of questions
Present simple or present perfectB2 screens of questions

Point A of 2

is and has been

Omar is staying with his cousins in Belfast. He is there at this moment.

He got to Belfast on Tuesday. It is now Saturday.

How long has he been in Belfast?

He has been in Belfast since Tuesday. Put another way, he has been there for four days.

Tuesday ... now (Saturday)
he arrived he has been in Belfast since Tuesday / for four days he is in Belfast now

is is the present. has been is the present perfect.

  • "How long have you been in Cornwall?" "Since Monday."
  • She's in Cornwall now. She's been there for three days.

Point A · Exercise 18.1 · part 1 of 2

Complete the sentences.

  1. Example

    Mum is in Spain. She's been there since Saturday.

    AnswerMum is in Spain. She's been there since Saturday.

  2. Example

    I know Darren. I've known him since we were at school.

    AnswerI know Darren. I've known him since we were at school.

  3. Pete and Sue are married. They married since 2004.

  4. Our dog is ill. He ill for a week.

  5. We live in Doncaster. We there for twenty years.

  6. Maria works in a hospital. She in a hospital for six years.

Point A · Exercise 18.1 · part 2 of 2

Complete the sentences.

  1. Ollie has toothache. He toothache since last night.

  2. I'm learning to drive. I to drive for three months.

Point A · Exercise 18.2 · part 1 of 2

Read each sentence and make a question with How long ...?

  1. Example

    Kerry is at university.

    How long has she been at university?

    AnswerHow long has she been at university?

  2. Ben and Hannah are in Australia.

  3. I know Ahmed.

  4. Freya is learning the guitar.

  5. My sister lives in York.

Point A · Exercise 18.2 · part 2 of 2

Read each sentence and make a question with How long ...?

  1. I'm a nurse.

  2. It's snowing.

Point A · Exercise 18.3 · part 1 of 2

Read each scene and complete the sentence. Your sentence must end with one of the phrases in the list.

Use these

for twenty minutesall morningall his lifefor thirty yearssince she was 16since Friday

  1. Example

    An old couple are holding hands. They say: "We're married. Our wedding was thirty years ago."

    They've been married for thirty years.

    AnswerThey've been married for thirty years.

  2. A man says: "I live in Belfast. I was born here and I've never lived anywhere else."

    He .

  3. A family are sitting outside their tent. They say: "We're on holiday. We arrived on Friday."

    They .

  4. It is 12 o'clock. Rain is pouring down the window. It started raining at 8 o'clock this morning.

    It .

  5. A woman is standing at a bus stop, looking at her watch. She says: "I'm waiting for the bus. I got here twenty minutes ago."

    She .

Point A · Exercise 18.3 · part 2 of 2

Read each scene and complete the sentence. Your sentence must end with one of the phrases in the list.

Use these

for twenty minutesall morningall his lifefor thirty yearssince she was 16since Friday

  1. A woman is holding a violin. She says: "I play the violin. I started when I was 16."

    She .

Point B of 2

Present simple or present perfect

To say how long, use the present perfect, not the present simple.

present simple present perfect simple (have been / have lived / have known etc.)
Tom and Ruth are married. They have been married for twelve years. (not They are married for twelve years.)
Are you married? How long have you been married? (not How long are you married?)
Do you know Imran? How long have you known him? (not How long do you know him?)
I know Imran. I've known him for ages. (not I know him for ages.)
Zara lives in Bristol. How long has she lived in Bristol? She has lived there all her life.
I have a dog. How long have you had your dog? I've had him since March.

With a continuous action, use the present perfect continuous (have been + -ing).

present continuous present perfect continuous (have been + -ing)
I'm learning Welsh. How long have you been learning Welsh? (not How long are you learning Welsh?) I've been learning Welsh for a year.
Dad is watching the snooker. How long has he been watching it? He's been (= he has been) watching it since two o'clock.
It's snowing. It's been (= it has been) snowing all day.
  • They've been married for twelve years.
  • How long have you known Imran?
  • I've had my dog since March.
  • I've been learning Welsh for a year.
  • It's been snowing all day.

Point B · Exercise 18.4 · part 1 of 2

Which is right? Choose the correct form.

  1. Example

    Leah has been (is / has been) in Italy since June.

    AnswerLeah has been in Italy since June.

  2. Dan is my neighbour. I (know / have known) him very well.

  3. Dan is my neighbour. I (know / have known) him for ten years.

  4. "Sorry, the traffic was awful. How long (are you / have you been) sitting here?" "Not long."

  5. Kate (works / has worked) in a café. She likes it there.

Point B · Exercise 18.4 · part 2 of 2

Which is right? Choose the correct form.

  1. Grandad is watching the cricket. He (is / has been) watching it since lunchtime.

  2. "How long (do you live / have you lived) in this street?" "Since 2014."

  3. "Is that a new watch?" "No, (I have / I've had) it for years."

  4. Sophie (is / has been) in Scotland at the moment. She (is / has been) there since Tuesday.

Lesson 18 · Result

How you did

Next lesson: for, since, agoBack to the course

–Right

Each point

A. is and has been–Not checkedB. Present simple or present perfect–Not checked