Essential Grammar in Use(Third Edition)--Present perfect Unit18

How long have you ...? (present perfect 4)

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Jane is on holiday in Ireland.

She is there now.

She arrived in Ireland on Monday.

Today is Thursday.

How long has she been in Ireland?

She has been in Ireland since Monday./ for three days.

 

Compare is and has been:

Monday	Thursday (now)
She has been in Ireland since Mondy./ for three days.
	She is in Ireland now.

is  = present                    has been = present perfect 

 

B

Compare:

present simple                         present perfect simple(have been/ have lived/ have known  etc.)

Dan and Kate are married.    They have been married for five years.  (not They are married for five years.)

Are you married?                   How long have you  been married? (not How long are you married?)

Do you know Lisa?                How long have you known her? (not How long are you know her?)

I know Lisa.                            I've known her for a long time. (not I know her for a long time.)

Vicky lives in London.           How long has she lived in London?   She has lived there all her life.

I have a car.                           How long have you had your car?    I've had it since April.

present continuous                 present perfect continuous ( have been + -ing)       

I'm learning German.             How long have you been learning  German? (not How long are you learning German?)

                                                I've been learning German for two years.

David is watching TV.            How long has he been watching TV?    He's been (= He has been) watching TV since 5 o'clock.

It's raining.                            It's been (= It has been) raining all day.