1. Primary Longman Elect 5A Chapter 7 How long have you …?
I’ve … for/since …
… ago/in (1996).

2. How long …?
We use How long …? with the present perfect tense to ask about the length of a period of time. We use either since or for to answer How long questions.
I’ve done ballet since 2003.
How long have you done ballet?

3. How long …?
We use How long …? with the present perfect tense to ask about the length of a period of time. We use either since or for to answer How long questions.
I’ve collected stamps for 2 years.
How long have you collected stamps?

4. (‘1999’ is a point in time, not a period of time.)
Since
We use since with the present perfect tense to refer to the starting point of an action.
I have played the piano since 1999.
starting time
1999
now 2009
= nineteen ninety-nine
= two thousand and nine
(‘1999’ is a point in time, not a period of time.)

5. For
We use for with the present perfect tense to refer to a period of time.
I have played the piano for 10 years.
= 10 years
starting time
1999
now 2009
(’10 years’ is a period of time, not a point in time.)

6. Key structure How long have you done ballet? I’ve done ballet since
‘since’ + a point in time (e.g. 1999)
I’ve done ballet
since
2003.
for
2 years.
‘for’ + a period of time (e.g. 3 years)
Use the present perfect tense with since and for.

7. The simple past tense
We use the past tense to talk about actions that happened in the past. We know the specific point of time of the action.
I had my first ballet lesson in 2003.

8. The simple past tense
We use the past tense to talk about actions that happened in the past. We know the specific point of time of the action.
I gave my first ballet performance four years ago.

9. Key structure I had my first ballet lesson 2 years ago. in 2003.
These words and phrases can also be used with the simple past tense: yesterday, last (week).

10. Practice in since for ago
1 She wrote the book Betty and her teddy _________ 2003.
2 He has been an athlete ________ 1989.
3 I have played tennis _________ 2006.
Zoe has learnt swimming ________ 2 years.
They met each other 5 years ________ .
Mr Li has been my class teacher ________ 3 years. in
since
since
for 
ago
for

11. Practice in since for ago since
7 We have been neighbours ________ 2000.
8 My uncle moved to Singapore ________ 1985.
9 I have studied in this school ________ 5 years.
10 My friend and I watched the film two days ________ .
11 He has liked hiking ________ 2007. in
for 
ago
since

12. The End