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Complete English transcript
Julia, someone asks when I moved here.
I say: I live here since twenty twenty-three.
They understand me, but something sounds wrong.
There is a small change that makes a big difference, Martin.
Welcome to Fix It in Five, from Your English Toolbox.
I am Martin.
And I am Julia.
Today, we are connecting a starting point in the past to a situation that is still true now.
Here is my story: I moved into this flat in October twenty twenty-three.
It is now October twenty twenty-six, and I still live here.
Then say: I have lived here since twenty twenty-three.
In conversation, I have often becomes I've.
I've lived here since twenty twenty-three.
Not I live here since twenty twenty-three.
Right.
The present simple tells us about your situation now: I live here.
When you connect that continuing situation to its starting point, use the present perfect.
That is have or has, followed by the past participle.
For live, the form is lived.
Exactly.
I've lived here since twenty twenty-three.
She has lived here since twenty twenty-three.
What does since do?
Since introduces the starting point.
Since twenty twenty-three, since Monday, since my birthday.
Imagine pointing to one place on a timeline.
And for gives the length of time?
Yes.
For three years, for two weeks, for a long time.
Imagine measuring the distance along that timeline.
Because I moved here in October twenty twenty-three, I can say: I've lived here for three years.
In our October twenty twenty-six example, yes.
Same continuing situation, but a different way of describing the time.
Since the beginning; for the duration.
Here is another example: I've worked here since Monday.
Or: I've worked here for four days.
The first tells you when the period began; the second tells you how long it has lasted.
Does this work with people, too?
Certainly.
I've known my neighbour since school.
I've known my neighbour for ten years.
Notice known, the past participle of know.
Now I need a question.
How long have you lived here?
Perfect.
How long have you worked here?
How long have you known your neighbour?
We use how long to ask for the duration of a continuing situation.
Let us try three small repairs.
First: I live in this flat since twenty twenty-three.
Correct it aloud.
I've lived in this flat since twenty twenty-three.
Second: I've worked here since two years.
Change the time word.
I've worked here for two years.
Two years is a duration, not a starting point.
Third: ask me about the length of time I have known my best friend.
How long have you known your best friend?
Good.
Now complete a true sentence about yourself.
I've lived here since...
And try it with for instead.
One important limit: today, the situation is still true.
If you moved away, you might say: I lived there for three years.
That describes a finished period, so the meaning has changed.
Our toolbox: I've lived here since a starting point, for a duration, and How long have you lived here?
You do not need to solve every English tense today.
Make this one pattern useful in your own life.
The printable practice is on yourenglishtoolbox.com, through the episode link in the description.
See you next time for another small fix.
