YET-YOUR ESL TEACHER: HOW LONG
ESL GRAMMAR
WH-QUESTIONS

How Long
UPDATED:  MAY 2022
STRUCTURE: 

  • using "to be"
    ​
  • How long  + was, were, will, have/had been + phrase
EXAMPLES:

  1. How long will you be in Dallas?   
    Two days.

  2. How long were you in Dallas?     
    Two days.

  3. How long had he been in Dallas when he got his job?  2 weeks.  (past perfect)

  4. How long should I plan on staying in Dallas?  
    A couple of months.

  5. How long have you been living in Dallas?  
    Six years.  

​VISIT DALLAS
STRUCTURE:

using "Action Verb"

How long + do, does, did, will, have/had + action verb + phrase
EXAMPLES:

  1. How long will you work in New York?  
    Eight weeks.

  2. How long did you study English in New York?
    A month.

  3. How long did you stay in New York on business?
    A week.

  4. How long have you worked in New York?  
    Since 2010.

  5. How long did you attend the University of New York?
    ​     For two years.

  6. How long should I study English?
    As long as necessary. 
     
  7. How long would you study English if you were me?
    Nine months minimum.
VISIT NEW YORK CITY
MOST COMMON MISTAKE:

  • Speaker says:

    "How long time to go from Miami to Orlando?"  
     INCORRECT  -  Don't use "time".

  • "How long does it take to go from Miami to Orlando?"
    CORRECT

  • "How long will you be in Canada?     6 weeks.   CORRECT
NOTE:

When you are speaking formal English, and use How long, the reply usually requires that you give "time" in the answer using "for" or "since.  

  • How long did you live in Los Angeles?     For 3 years.

  • How long have you been studying English?    Since 2010.  

However, in normal conversational English don't use "for" or "since".  

Click Here  "for" and "since".