How long have you … ? (Typical German speaker mistake (1))

Hi everybody!

 

I often hear this mistake made by German speakers who are learning English.

They say:  I work here since three years.

 

Remember, when something started in the past, is true now and continues into the future we use the present perfect tense ( have/has + 3rd form of the verb ).

 

Remember also that we use ‘since’ with a point in time (yesterday, 3 o’clock, February, last week) and we use ‘for’ with a length of time (three days, ten minutes, twenty years).

 

So, the correct sentence is:  I have worked here for three years.

 

Some further examples:

She has lived in London since March.

They have been married for over 20 years.

I have had my car since June last year.

 

Have fun learning English!

Louise

 

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