Express the time: When, How long, For, During, While, Since
A/ WHEN = « which moment »:
we can use past simple, present, and future (will).
When + past simple: When did he start sleeping?
When did you start sleeping? I started sleeping two hours ago.
When did you adopt your dog? I adopted him when I was student!
When did she arrive? She arrived at five o’clock!
When + present: When do you want to come?
When do you want to come?
When do you want me to arrive?
When do you want him to come?
When + futur (will): When will it be done?
When will it be done? It will be done tonight!
When will he be here? He will be here at five o’clock.
But!! if WHEN expresses the begining of a moment:
we use only a Present Tense (and not « will »).
Give me a call when you arrive at home, ok?
You’ll understand when you are parents.
You can go outside when your homework is finished.
B/ HOW LONG:
How long + Present Perfect:
How long has he been sleeping?
How long has he been sleeping? He‘s been sleeping for two hours!
How long have they been together? They’ve been together since the University.
How long have they been married? They have been married 10 years.
How long + Present: if we’re talking about a trip:
How long are you visiting London?
We are visiting London only 2 days.
How long + verb « to take »:
How long does it take to cook the apple pie? 10 minutes? 30 minutes?
=> it doesn’t take a long time, maybe 15 minutes.
C/ FOR + period of time:
FOR + Preterit: we expresses how long the event last in the past.
The house was empty for 5 years.
FOR + Present Perfect: we expresses the begining of the event:
I’ve known him for 10 years.
FOR + Future: we expresses a during time in the future.
Students will be on holidays for 3 months.
Time Keywords:
for 45 minutes, 2 hours, 3 days, 2 weeks, 3 months, 2 years, a long time,
FOR # DURING !! it’s not the same.
FOR + period of time: For 2 hours, for 3 months, for a long time, for 1 year, …
DURING + event: during last night, during the Summer holidays.
D/ DURING: during the night …
I met her during the last holidays.
E/ WHILE:
My car war stolen while we were at the cinema.
F/ SINCE:
Since + start of the period: I’ve lived in New York since April!
(time, date, day, month, year, period of time, an action…)
I haven’t seen her since Christmas.
You haven’t been in London since 1997?
Since + Hours: since five o’clock ….
Since + Month: since April, since May, …
Since + Year: since 1993, since 2001, since 1985, …
Since + Period of time: since this morning, since last week, since last year, …
Since + Yesterday: The shop is open ince yesterday …
Since + Then: Since then, I’ve never been to London.
Since + Past events: since my birthday, since Christmas, since my car accident, …
REMEMBER: SINCE # FOR :
SINCE + start of the event: since my birthday.
FOR + period of time: for last three months.
How long have you known her? Since last year.
Sarah have known Peter since last year.
TIME EXPRESSIONS: