12. FOR AND SINCE When….? And How Long ….?

ENGLISH GRAMMAR IN USE FOR INTERMEDIATE

12. FOR AND SINCE

When….? And How Long ….?

A	We use for and since to say how long something has been happening. We use for + a period of time (two hours, six weeks etc.): I've been waiting for two hours. 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 (8 o'clock, Monday, 1999 etc.): I've been waiting since 8 o'clock.   Sally has been working here since April. (=from April until now) I haven't seen Tom since Monday. 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) 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)
B	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 they known each other? B: They’ve known each other for a long time/ since they were at school.
C	We say: or it’s it’s been (= it is) (= it has been) a long time six months (etc.) since something happened 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 Mrs Hill die?)

EXERCISES

12.1	Write for or since. 1 It’s been raining ___ since____ lunchtime. 2 Sarah has lived in Paris __________ 1995. 3 Paul has lived in Brazil ____________ten years. 4 I’m tired of waiting. We’ve been sitting here ________ an hour. 5 Kevin has been looking for a job ______________he left school. 6 I haven't been to a party_____________ ages. 7 I wonder where Joe is. I haven't seen him _____________ last week. 8 Jane is away. She's been away _____________Friday. 9 The weather is dry. It hasn't rained ______________a few weeks.
12.2	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 Japanese. (how long /learn?) _____________________________________________ (when /start?) _____________________________________________ 3 I know Simon. (how long /you /know? _____________________________________________ (when /you /first /meet?) _____________________________________________ 4 Rebecca and David are married. (how long?)  _____________________________________________ (when?) _____________________________________________
12.3	Read the situations and complete the sentences. 1 It’s raining. It’s been raining since lunch time. It _____started raining ______ at lunchtime. 2 Ann and jess are friends. They first met years ago. They’ve _____known each other for____ years. 3 Mark is ill. He became ill on Sunday. He has ________________Sunday. 4 Mark is ill. He became ill a few days ago. He has ________________ a few days. 5 Sarah is married. She's been married for a year. She got ________________ 6 You have a headache. It started when you woke up. I’ve ________________ I woke up. 7 Sue has been in Italy for the last three weeks. She went ________________ 8 You're working in a hotel. You started six months ago. I’ve ________________
12.4	Write B's sentences using the words in brackets. 1 A: Do you often go on holiday? B: No, ____I haven’t had a holiday for ______ five years. 2 A: Do you often see Laura? B: No, I ______________________ about a month 3 A: Do you often go to the cinema? B: No, I ____________________ a long time. 4 A: Do you often eat in restaurants? B: No, ________________________ ages. 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) _______________________

ANSWER KEY