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"how long have you been" vs "how long had you been"

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'How long have you been' is used to ask about the duration of an action or state that started in the past and continues up to the present. 'How long had you been' is used to ask about the duration of an action or state that started in the past and continued up to a specific point in the past.

Last Updated: March 30, 2024

how long have you been

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to ask about the duration of an action or state that started in the past and continues up to the present.

This phrase is used to inquire about the length of time someone has been doing something or experiencing a particular situation from the past up to the present.

Examples:

  • How long have you been studying English?
  • How long have you been living in this city?
  • How long have you been working at your current job?
  • How long have you been playing the piano?
  • How long have you been waiting for the bus?

Alternatives:

  • For how long have you been
  • Since when have you been
  • How long had you been
  • How long did you spend
  • How long were you

how long had you been

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to ask about the duration of an action or state that started in the past and continued up to a specific point in the past.

This phrase is used to inquire about the length of time someone had been doing something or experiencing a particular situation up to a specific point in the past.

Examples:

  • How long had you been studying English before you moved to the U.S.?
  • How long had you been living in that house before you decided to sell it?
  • How long had you been working at your previous job before you got promoted?
  • How long had you been playing the guitar before you joined a band?
  • How long had you been waiting for the train when it finally arrived?

Alternatives:

  • For how long had you been
  • Since when had you been
  • How long have you been
  • How long did you spend
  • How long were you

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