Step 42: How Long?

📖 Read — Since When?

“How long have you lived in Austin?” Emma asks Ethan. “I've lived here since 2018,” he says. “That's — wait — for eight years! And I've been learning English for three months now. It has been raining since morning, so let's study inside!”

Miss Taylor smiles at her class. “I have been teaching for twenty years,” she says. “I started in 2006. Some of my first students are parents now!” Ethan laughs. “Have you been here all morning?” — “For ages!” says Tom. “Since nine o'clock!”

🔊 Listen to the text

🧩 Grammar — For and Since + Present Perfect Continuous

Answer How long…? with for + a period (for three months, for ages) or since + a starting point (since 2020, since Monday, since I was ten). For actions still happening, use the present perfect continuous: have/has been + verb-ing — I've been learning English for three months. It has been raining since morning.

• I've lived here since 2018.
• She has worked here for ten years.
• We've been waiting for twenty minutes.
• It has been snowing since last night.

🏗️ Key structures

• I've ___ here for ___ / since ___ — I've worked here for five years. / I've worked here since 2021.
• How long have you ___? — How long have you lived in Chicago?
• It has been ___-ing since ___ — It has been raining since morning.

⭐ Idiom & natural phrases

🔤 New words

🎧 Say it with me

I’ve been learning English for three months. I’ve lived in my city since I was a child, and I’ve known my best friend for ages!

🔊 Listen & repeat

🎤 Your turn to speak

Answer 'How long?' about yourself: how long you have lived in your home, known your best friend, and been learning English. Use for and since.

Say it out loud three times. Even better: record it on your phone and listen — your ear is your best teacher.

✍️ Your turn to write

Write 4 sentences with for and since about your life and your English.

Self-check: capital letters? Full stops? Did you use the grammar of this step?

📝 Quick check