Read the situations and write questions from the words in brackets.

1. John tells you that his mother is in hospital. You ask him:

(how long/be/in hospital?)

How long has your mother been in hospital?

2. You meet a woman who tells you that she teaches English. You ask her:

(how long/teach/English?)

3. You know that Jane is a good friend of Carol's. You ask Jane:

(how long/know/Carol?)

4. Your friend's brother went to Australia some time ago and he's still there. You ask your friend:

(how long/be/in Australia?)

5. Tim always wears the same jacket. It's a very old jacket. You ask him:

(how long/have/that jacket?)

6. You are talking to a friend about Alan. Alan now works at the airport. You ask your friend:

(how long/work/at the airport?)

7. A friend of yours is having driving lessons. You ask him:

(how long/have/driving lessons?)

8. You meet somebody on a train. She tells you that she lives in Glasgow. You ask her: (always/live/in Glasgow?)

11.3 Complete Bs answers to A's questions.

1. A: Amy is in hospital, isn't she?

B: Yes, she has been in hospital since Monday.

2. A: Do you see Ann very often?

B: No, I haven't seen her for three months.

3. A: Is Margaret married?

B. Yes, she --- married for ten years.

4. A: Are you waiting for me?

B: Yes, I --- for the last half hour.

5. A: You know Linda, don't you?

B: Yes, we --- each other for ages.

6. A: Do you still play tennis?

B: No, I --- tennis for years.

7. A: Is Jim watching TV?

B: Yes, he --- TV all evening.

8. A: Do you watch TV a lot?

B: No, I --- TV for a long time.

9. Have you got a headache?

B: Yes, I --- a headache all morning.

10. A: George is never ill, is he?

B: No, he --- ill since I've known him.

11. A: Are you feeling ill?

B: Yes, I --- ill since I got up.

12. Sue lives in London, doesn't she?

B: Yes, she --- in London for the last few years.

13. Do you still go to the cinema a lot?

B: No, I --- to the cinema for ages.

14. Would you like to go to New York one day?

B: Yes, I --- to go to New York. (use always/want)

UNIT12. When ...? and How long ...? For and since

A. 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')

C. 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

Date: 2016-03-03; view: 2316