I've been a chef for about/almost 5 years now.

[Gabex]

Hello there ,

"I've been a chef for about 5 years now."

1.Does it still apply at the moment of speaking?
2.What happens if "now" is removed?
3.Does the meaning of the sentence changes if "almost" is used instead of "about"?

Thanks.

 

[GoesStation]

I've been a chef for about 5 years now."

1.Does it still apply at the moment of speaking? Yes.
2.What happens if "now" is removed? It's slightly less emphatic.
3.Does the meaning of the sentence changes if "almost" is used instead of "about"? Yes. It would mean that you've been a chef for less than but nearly five years. With "about" it could be a little longer or a little less.

See above.

 

[emsr2d2]

The "now" has nothing to do with knowing if the person is still a chef. It's the use of the present perfect at the start along with "for about five years" that tells us.