Mehrgan Key Member Joined Apr 18, 2009 Member Type Other Native Language Persian Home Country Iran Current Location Iran Oct 26, 2012 #1 Hi, Would it be always wrong to use 'for' before 'a long time' as in the following sentence? 'We've been married a long time!'
Hi, Would it be always wrong to use 'for' before 'a long time' as in the following sentence? 'We've been married a long time!'
emsr2d2 Moderator Staff member Joined Jul 28, 2009 Member Type English Teacher Native Language British English Home Country UK Current Location UK Oct 26, 2012 #2 No, you can add "for" if you want to. It's not obligatory.
Mehrgan Key Member Thread starter Joined Apr 18, 2009 Member Type Other Native Language Persian Home Country Iran Current Location Iran Oct 27, 2012 #3 Is this arbitrariness just for 'a long time'? How about other phrases indicating time used in a present perfect tense?
Is this arbitrariness just for 'a long time'? How about other phrases indicating time used in a present perfect tense?
5jj Moderator Staff member Joined Oct 14, 2010 Member Type English Teacher Native Language British English Home Country Czech Republic Current Location Czech Republic Oct 27, 2012 #4 We can omit 'for' before most time expressions. The omission is rather informal. I have lived here (for) ten years.
We can omit 'for' before most time expressions. The omission is rather informal. I have lived here (for) ten years.
Chicken Sandwich Senior Member Joined Jun 20, 2010 Member Type Interested in Language Native Language Russian Home Country Russian Federation Current Location Netherlands Oct 27, 2012 #5 Mehrgan said: Is this arbitrariness just for 'a long time'? How about other phrases indicating time used in a present perfect tense? Click to expand... NOT A TEACHER It is possible to leave out for (but not usualy in negative sentences): - They've been married (for) ten years. (with or without for) - They haven't had a holiday for ten years. (you must use for) (English Grammar in Use - Raymond Murphy)
Mehrgan said: Is this arbitrariness just for 'a long time'? How about other phrases indicating time used in a present perfect tense? Click to expand... NOT A TEACHER It is possible to leave out for (but not usualy in negative sentences): - They've been married (for) ten years. (with or without for) - They haven't had a holiday for ten years. (you must use for) (English Grammar in Use - Raymond Murphy)