“Speak English like a Pro!” series : Discussing work and general life experience

Whether you are going through a job or university admissions interview (woo hoo!), or just trying to sound reasonably cool in conversation with an English-speaking friend, it can be tough to know which verb tense to use. For example, what do you say when someone asks you : “How long have you been working at that company?” Or even : “You play the electric guitar? Cool! How long have you been playing for?”

I’ll tell you what not to say : “I am playing the electric guitar since five years.”

WRONG! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard that one. Despite the expression’s prevalence among French speakers, it simply isn’t English. Let’s correct it, so that you sound like a casually hip native English speaker.

Instead, say, “ I have been playing the electric guitar for five years.”

I won’t get too technical here, but you should say “have been” plus the verb you want to say with -ing, to talk about any activity you used to do and still do today. And don’t you dare use “since” in that sentence, unless you’re going to refer to a specific year!

Correct : “I have been playing the electric guitar since 2012.”

Incorrect : “I have been wanting to talk to you since an hour.”

Got it?

Good! Now go have that cool, hip, native speaker conversation!

May your English reach for the stars,

Meg