How long have you (been)...?

Study this example situation:

We use the present perfect to talk about something that began in the past and still continues now. Compare the present and the present perfect:

• Amy is in hospital. but She has been in hospital since Monday, (not 'Amy is in hospital since Monday')

• We know each other very well. but We have known each other for a long time. (not 'we know')

• Are you waiting for somebody? but How long have you been waiting?

I have been doing something (present perfect continuous} = 'I started doing something in the past and I am still doing it (or have just stopped)':

• I've been learning English for a long time. (not 'I am learning')

• Sorry I'm late. Have you been waiting long?

• It's been raining since I got up this morning. The action can be a repeated action:

• 'How long have you been driving?' 'Since I was 17.'

I have done (simple} or I have been doing (continuous} The continuous is more usual with how long, since and for (see also Unit 10B):

• I've been learning English for a long time. (not usually 'I've learnt')

You can normally use either the continuous or simple with live and work:

• John has been living / has lived in London for a long time.

• How long have you been working / have you worked here? But we use the simple with always:

• John has always lived in London, (not 'has always been living') You can use the continuous or the simple for actions repeated over a long period:

• I've been collecting / I've collected stamps since I was a child.

Some verbs (for example, know/like/believe) are not normally used in the continuous:

• How long have you known Jane? (not 'have you been knowing')

• I've had a pain in my stomach since I got up this morning. . For a list of these verbs, see Unit 4A. For have see Unit 17.

We use the present perfect simple in negative sentences like these:'

• I haven't seen Tom since Monday. (= Monday was the last time I saw him)

• Jane hasn't phoned me for two weeks. (= the last time she phoned was two weeks ago)