How Long Have You…?
I can ask about an ongoing situation and distinguish its duration from its starting event.
Try the activities, then check your answers.
Try the activities, then check your answers.
Choose a short recording.
Your situation
Lea is interviewing a new club member. “How long have you lived here?” “For three years.” “And how long have you known Ana?” “Since we met at a photography class.” “When did you join this club?” “Last month.”
Read the situation transcript
Lea is interviewing a new club member. “How long have you lived here?” “For three years.” “And how long have you known Ana?” “Since we met at a photography class.” “When did you join this club?” “Last month.”
Which question asks about a completed beginning event rather than an ongoing situation?
Compare your idea
When did you join this club? asks for the time of joining.
How it works
Ask How long have you…? about a situation that continues now: lived here, known someone, had something. Answer with for plus a duration or since plus a starting point.
Ask When did you…? about the event that began a relationship or activity: meet, move, join. The two questions are related but do not request the same information.
How long have you known/lived/had…? For… / Since…. When did you meet/move/join…?
Reference situation
How long have you lived here?
This asks about an ongoing living situation.
Contrasting viewpoint
For three years.
This gives its duration.
Hear the examples
How long have you lived here?
This asks about an ongoing living situation.
For three years.
This gives its duration.
I’ve known Ana since we met in class.
This gives the starting event.
When did you join the club?
This asks about the completed joining event.
One mistake worth avoiding
Instead of: How long do you know Ana?
Say: How long have you known Ana?
Use present perfect for the state continuing to now.
You say
Hear the prompt, answer aloud, then deliberately reveal or hear one possible model. Check it and retry with a changed detail.
Your turn 1
Ask about a continuing living situation.
Compare a possible model
Reveal the model text
How long have you lived in this area?
Check yourself: Do not assume the person wants to give a precise address.
Retry with one detail of your own. Other wording is welcome when it meets this check.
Your turn 2
Answer with a duration and a starting point.
Compare a possible model
Reveal the model text
For two years. Since 2024.
Check yourself: Use a consistent fictional present when giving years.
Retry with one detail of your own. Other wording is welcome when it meets this check.
Your turn 3
Follow up with a question about the beginning.
Compare a possible model
Reveal the model text
When did you move here?
Check yourself: Move is the beginning event, not the ongoing state.
Retry with one detail of your own. Other wording is welcome when it meets this check.
Two guided self-checks
Say or write your answer before opening a model.
Self-check 1
Complete: I’ve had this camera ___ last winter.
Compare a model and explanation
I’ve had this camera since last winter.
The phrase gives a starting point.
Self-check 2
Ask about the first meeting with Ana.
Compare a model and explanation
When did you meet Ana?
Use past simple for the meeting event.
Check your understanding
Choose one answer to each question, then check your answers. One of the ten questions is listening.
Automatic scoring needs JavaScript. Use the answer key after attempting all ten questions.
Answer key with explanations
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How long ___ you lived in this town?
have: The question concerns a state continuing to now.
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I’ve known Jo ___ we met at school.
since: A starting event follows since.
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I’ve had this bag ___ four years.
for: Four years measures duration.
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Which question asks for the starting event’s time?
When did you join?: Join is a completed event that began membership.
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Choose a correct ongoing-state reply.
I’ve known her for ages.: Know is normally a state verb; use have known.
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Correct “I’ve lived here since three months.”
I’ve lived here for three months.: Three months is a duration and takes for.
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Does “since we met” give a duration measured in units?
No; it gives a starting event.: The meeting is the beginning point, not a stated number of units.
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How long has the speaker had the camera?
For two years: The recording gives a two-year duration.
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Choose the natural question pair.
How long have you known her? When did you meet?: An ongoing state and its beginning event take different patterns.
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What should an interviewer avoid confusing?
How long the state has continued and when it began: The two time perspectives need different information and often different tenses.
Take it with you
I can ask about an ongoing situation and distinguish its duration from its starting event.