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Unit 18 · Present perfect

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

Study

A

Helen is on holiday in Ireland. She is there now. She arrived in Ireland on Monday. Today is Thursday.

›

How long has she been in Ireland?

›

She has been in Ireland since Monday. She has been in Ireland for three days.

Compare is and has been:

She is in Ireland is = present now.
She has been in Ireland has been = present perfect since Monday for three days.
B

Compare:

present simple present perfect simple (have been / have lived / have known etc.)
Dan and Kate are married. They have been married for five years. (not They are married for five years.)
Are you married? How long have you been married? (not How long are you married?)
Do you know Lisa? How long have you known her? (not How long do you know her?)
I know Lisa. I've known her for a long time. (not I know her for ...)
Vicky lives in London. How long has she lived in London? She has lived there all her life.
I have a car. How long have you had your car? I've had it since April.
present continuous present perfect continuous (have been + -ing)
I'm learning German. How long have you been learning German? (not How long are you learning German?)
I've been learning German for two years.
David is watching TV. How long has he been watching TV?
He's been (= He has been) watching TV since 5 o'clock.
It's raining. It's been (= It has been) raining all day.

Exercises (4)

0/4 exercises checked
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18.1

Complete these sentences.

  1. 1
    Helen is in Ireland. She in Ireland since Monday.example
  2. 2
    I know Lisa. I her for a long time.example
  3. 3
    Sarah and Andy are married. They married since 2005.
  4. 4
    Ben is ill. He ill for the last few days.
  5. 5
    We live in Scott Road. We there for a long time.
  6. 6
    Catherine works in a bank. She there for five years.
  7. 7
    Alan has a headache. He a headache since he got up this morning.
  8. 8
    I'm learning English. I English for six months.
18.2

Make questions with How long ... ?

  1. 1
    Helen is on holiday.
    How long has she been on holiday? example
  2. 2
    Steve and Nadia are in Brazil.
    How long ?
  3. 3
    I know Amy.
    How long ?
  4. 4
    Emily is learning Italian.
    How long ?
  5. 5
    My brother lives in Canada.
    How long ?
  6. 6
    I'm a teacher.
    How long ?
  7. 7
    It is raining.
    How long ?
18.3

Look at the pictures and complete the sentences with: for ten minutes for ten years all day since he was 20 all her life since Sunday

  1. 1Happily married couple together
    They have been married for ten years. example
  2. 2Woman in the Welsh countryside with a dragon flag
    She has lived in Wales .
  3. 3Couple relaxing on a beach holiday
    They have been on holiday .
  4. 4Bright sun shining in a clear blue sky
    The sun has been shining .
  5. 5Woman waiting and checking her watch
    She has been waiting .
  6. 6Man with a full beard
    He has had a beard .
18.4

Which is right?

  1. 1
    Mark lives / has lived in Canada since April.
  2. 2
    Jane and I are friends. I know / I've known her very well.
  3. 3
    Jane and I are friends. I know / I've known her for a long time.
  4. 4
    A: Sorry I'm late. How long are you waiting / have you been waiting? B: Not long. Only five minutes.
  5. 5
    Luke works / has worked in a hotel now. He likes his job a lot.
  6. 6
    Ruth is reading a newspaper. She is reading / She has been reading it for two hours.
  7. 7
    'How long do you live / have you lived in this house?' 'About ten years.'
  8. 8
    'Is that a new coat?' 'No, I have / I've had this coat for a long time.'
  9. 9
    Tom is / has been in Spain at the moment. He is / He has been there for the last three days.