for vs. since / When…? vs. How long…?

As the calender turns...

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

Use for + a period of time (one hour, five weeks, etc.):

I’ve been bingewatching Breaking Bad for four days.

I haven’t seen a grammarillo for a week.

Use since + the start of a period (7 o’clock, Saturday, 1987, etc.):

I’ve been bingewatching Breaking Bad since Thursday.

I haven’t seen a grammarillo since June.

It’s possible to leave out for (but not usually in negative sentences):

My parents have been married (for) twenty-five years. (with or without for)

They haven’t had a break for three hours. (you must use for)

Don’t use for + all … (all day, all my life, etc.):

Raoul has lived in this area all his life. (not for all his life)

You can use in instead of for in negative sentences:

Alex hasn’t had a cold in five years. (= for five years)

When …? (+ past simple) and How long …? (+ present perfect):

“When did it start snowing?”                    “It started an hour ago / at 10 o’clock.”

“How long has it been snowing?”             “It’s been snowing for an hour / since 10 o’clock.”

Note that both the present simple and the present perfect can be used in these cases:

It’s (= It is) or It’s been (=It has been)

a long time six months etc.

since something happened

It’s two months since I saw a grammarillo.          or            It’s been two years since ... (= I haven’t seen a grammarillo for two years.)

It’s ages since Dani and Mia went to the cinema.      or     It’s been ages since … (= They haven’t been to the cinema for ages)

How long is it since our birdie died?          or            How long has it been since …? (=When did the birdie die?)

Present perfect continuous

Follow-up on the present perfect

Present perfect continuous: have/has been –ing

I/we/they/you have (= I’ve etc.)	been	going waiting playing etc.
He/she/it has (= he’s etc.)

You use the present perfect continuous for an activity that has recently stopped or just stopped. There’s a connection with now:

“I’ve been talking to Alex about the problem and he agrees with me.”

“Where have you been? I’ve been looking for you everywhere.”

You also use it when talking about an activity that started in the past and is still going on:

“How long has it been raining?”                 “It has been raining for two hours.” (= it’s still raining.)

Dani and Mia are watching TV. They’ve been watching TV all day.

The present perfect continuous is used in this way with how long, for… and since… The activity is still happening or has just stopped.

Ever Saturday my family goes to the same café. They’ve been going there for years.

Raoul is a very good trombone player. He’s been playing since he was sixteen.

Now you might think: “Wait a minute! This sounds a lot like the present continuous.” Well, there are of course some similarities, but there’s one key difference. By using the present continuous, you focus on the now. The activity might have been going on for a while but the emphasis lies on the fact that it is happening at the very moment you’re speaking:

“We need an umbrella. It’s raining.” (= it might have been raining for a while but the important point is that it’s raining now)

“Hurry up! We’re waiting.”

 By using the present perfect continuous, you put the emphasis on the fact that, although an activity might still be taking place (or not), it has been going on for a while:

The ground is wet. It has been raining.

We have been waiting for an hour.

And finally, some verbs (for example, know, like and believe) are not normally used in the continuous:

I’ve known about the problem for a long time. (not I have been knowing)

How long have you had that job? (not have you been having)

But you can use want and mean in the present perfect continuous:

I’ve been meaning to phone Dani, but I keep forgetting.

This might all sound complicated, but in practice it’s actually pretty intuitive so you’ll get the hang of it really quickly, guaranteed!

Word of the Day

plutarchy

MEANING:

noun: 1. Rule by the wealthy. 2. A wealthy ruling class.

ETYMOLOGY:

The Greek biographer Plutarch (c. 46-120 CE) has no connection with this word. Rather, it's Ploutos, the god of riches in Greek mythology. The word (and its synonym plutocracy and the word plutolatry) are derived from Greek pluto- (wealth) + archos (ruler), from arkhein (to rule). Earliest documented use: 1643.

USAGE:

Whether we are all aware of it or not, our government has become a plutarchy over time.

Present perfect

Definitely a pain in the back for foreigners

The present perfect simple is composed of has/have + past participle.

When we say that something ‘has happened’, it’s usually new information:

“Ow! I’ve cut my finger.”

The road is closed. There’s been an accident.

Also use the present perfect both if it’s the first time something has happened and if something has happened before:

“It’s the first time I have seen a grammarillo.”

“Dani has forgotten her passport. This is the second time this has happened.”

When you use the present perfect, there’s a connection with now. An action in the past has a result now:

“Where’s your key?”       “I don’t know. I’ve lost it.” (= I don’t have it now)

“Is Raoul here?”    “No, he’s gone out.” (= he’s out now)

Similarly, you use it when you talk about a period of time that continues from the past until now:

“Have you ever seen a grammarillo?”

“Have you read this grammar blog Myriam was talking about?”

Indicators for this case include recently, in the last few days, since, etc.:

“Have you heard anything from Alex recently?”

“Everything is going well. We haven’t had any problems so far.”

“I’m hungry. I haven’t eaten since lunch.”

“We haven’t seen each other for a long time.”

Similarly, use the present perfect with today, this evening, this year, etc. when these periods are not finished at the time of speaking:

“I’ve drunk six cups of coffee today.”

“I haven’t seen the cat this morning? Have you?”

You usually use the present perfect with just, already and yet:

Just = a short time ago:

“Are you hungry?”          “No, I’ve just eaten.”

Already = something happened sooner than expected:

“What time is Mark leaving?”   “He’s already left.”

Yet = until now/you’re expecting something to happen. It’s only used in questions and negative sentences:

“Has it stopped raining yet?”

Been to = visited:

“I’ve never been to Luxembourg. Have you been there?”

Note the difference between gone (to) and been (to):

“My family is on holiday. The bastards have gone to Italy.” (= they are there now or on their way there)

Dani is back home. She has been to Italy. (= she has now come back)

To be honest, nowadays, the rules about using the present perfect are becoming more and more relaxed, so you could also use the past simple in these examples:

“Is Raoul here?”    “No, he went out.”

“Are you hungry?”          “No, I just ate.”