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Thread: in a long time / for a long time

  1. #1
    maledicte is offline Newbie
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    Default in a long time / for a long time

    Good evening !

    Is the following sentence correct ?

    "There was dust everywhere, as if nobody had come in a long time"

    I know that "for a long time" would be right, but is it wrong to say "in a long time" in this context ? I'm sure I've heard and read "in a long time" several times, but I don't understand when it can be used, and when it can't.

    Does anybody know for sure ?

    Thanks !

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    emsr2d2 is online now VIP Member
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    Default Re: in a long time / for a long time

    Quote Originally Posted by maledicte View Post
    Good evening !

    Is the following sentence correct ?

    "There was dust everywhere, as if nobody had come in a long time"

    I know that "for a long time" would be right, but is it wrong to say "in a long time" in this context ? I'm sure I've heard and read "in a long time" several times, but I don't understand when it can be used, and when it can't.

    Does anybody know for sure ?

    Thanks !
    "In a long time" would be fine, but in my opinion, "come" is not natural. I would use:

    "There was dust everywhere, as if nobody had been there in a long time."
    billmcd likes this.

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