How long have you been..?

“How long have you been…” is used to ask how long someone has a) done an activity for or b) done a job. The action started in the past and either a) finished in the past or b) is still happening until now.

Examples:
How long have you been + noun

How long have you been an architect?
I’ve been an architect for 15 years

How long have you been a skier?
I’ve been skiing for 15 years.

How long have you been + verb~ing

How long have you been skiing?*
I’ve been skiing for 3 hours.
Or
I’ve been skiing for 10 years.
*Context has to be used to determine if the question refers to the recent past or a longer period of time.

“How long have you been in” is used for a professional field, or a place
How long have you been in business?*
I’ve been in business for 25 years.
or
We’ve been in business since 1995.
*This question can also mean, “How long has this store/business been open?”

How long have you been in architecture?
I’ve been in architecture for 12 years.

“How long have you been into + noun” is used to express an interest in something
How long have you been into art?
I’ve been into art since I took an art class in college.

How long have you been into Karate?
I’ve been into Karate since 1995.

This meaning of “How long have you been into” can also be used with +ing for hobbies.

How long have you been into blading*.
For about 10 years now.
*blading = rollerblading = in-line skating

What is something you’re really into? = What is a hobby you really like?
I’m really into jogging.

BE CAREFUL with ‘been into + nouns’. If you use the plural form, it means you are sexually interested in this category of people. That is, you find people from this group sexually attractive.

Ex.
Woman 1: How long have you been into actors?
Woman 2: Since I dated Johnny Depp.

Practice:
Make questions using “How long have you been” with the words given below. Be sure to use the correct preposition/articles and the following nouns

Ex.
1. a teacher
Q: How long have you been a teacher?

2. a cyclist
Q: _____________________________________________________________

3. business (ask how long a business has been open)
Q: _____________________________________________________________

4. judo (ask how long someone has really liked doing judo)
Q: _____________________________________________________________

5. soccer players (ask how long someone has found soccer players sexually attractive)
Q: _____________________________________________________________

6. a jogger
Q: _____________________________________________________________

Now answer the questions you made.

Make five more “How long have you been questions to ask your partner”.