Home› Course› Level 2› It's Been + Time + Since
1 The Big Idea
How Long Since It Happened?
📘 Level 2 — Present Perfect — Lesson 7

It's been + time + since tells how much time has passed since the last time something happened.

You stand in the present and look back. Then you say the length of the gap.

It's been three years since I saw her. (The gap is three years.)
It's been ages since we spoke. (The gap is a very long time.)
It's been a long time since the class won. (The gap is a long time.)
2 The Structure
Three Parts
It's been + time + since + subject + Past Simple verb

It's = it has. been is the past participle of be. This part is the Present Perfect.

After since, always use the Past Simple. It names the last time the thing happened.

  • It's been three years since she visited us.
  • It's been ages since he arrived.
  • It's been a week since she called.
  • It's been a month since we moved.
  • It's been two years since they met.
3 Time Words
Words for the Gap

Put any length of time between been and since.

  • three years
  • six months
  • a week
  • a long time
  • over a year
  • too long
  • a while (= some time)
  • ages (= a very long time)

For a question, use How long has it been since…?

How long has it been since you saw her?
It has been three years since I saw her. (Longer form for writing.)
4 The Word LAST
The Most Recent Time

You can put last before the verb after since. It means "the most recent time." It is optional, but very common.

  • It's been months since I last slept well.
  • How long has it been since you last traveled abroad?
  • It's been a while since we last danced together.
  • It's been two years since he last cooked a big meal.
  • It's been ages since I last studied this hard.
5 Common Mistakes
Watch Out For These
❌ Mistake 1 — Time after SINCE
✗ It's been since a year I finished the course.
✗ It's since weeks we cleaned the garage.
✓ It's been a year since I finished the course.
✓ It's been weeks since we cleaned the garage.
The time goes between been and since. Do not put it after since.
❌ Mistake 2 — Wrong verb after SINCE
✗ It's been months since we sell the house.
✗ It's been years since I have bought a car.
✗ How long since you send that email?
✓ It's been months since we sold the house.
✓ It's been years since I bought a car.
✓ How long has it been since you sent that email?
After since, use the Past Simple. Do not use the Present Simple or the Present Perfect.
❌ Mistake 3 — IS instead of HAS BEEN
✗ It is months since she sold her car.
✗ It is a year since he stopped teaching.
✓ It has been months since she sold her car.
✓ It's been a year since he stopped teaching.
Use has been or 's been. This is the Present Perfect, because the gap goes from the past up to now.
6 Practice
Try It Yourself
Exercise A — Correctly Ordered, or Wrongly Ordered?

Click "Correct Order" if the time is between "been" and "since." Click "Wrong Order" if it is not.

  • 1
    It's been a decade since he moved away.
    ✓ Correct — "a decade" sits between "been" and "since."
  • 2
    It's since a week we talked.
    ✓ Correct — "a week" is misplaced after "since."
  • 3
    It's been over a year since they met.
    ✓ Correct — "over a year" sits between "been" and "since."
  • 4
    It's been quite some time since he wrote.
    ✓ Correct — "quite some time" sits between "been" and "since."
  • 5
    It's been since months I checked my email.
    ✓ Correct — "months" is misplaced after "since."
  • 6
    It's since a long time the sun shone this bright.
    ✓ Correct — "a long time" is misplaced after "since."
  • 7
    It's since ages we last spoke properly.
    ✓ Correct — "ages" is misplaced after "since."
  • 8
    It's been too long since we last met up.
    ✓ Correct — "too long" sits between "been" and "since."
Exercise B — Complete the Sentence After Since

Write the Past Simple of the verb.

  • 1
    It's been a year since they abroad. (move)
  • 2
    It's been ages since he a beard. (grow)
  • 3
    It's been a decade since she the country. (leave)
  • 4
    It's been six months since we the grass. (cut)
  • 5
    It's been a while since he a suit. (wear)
  • 6
    It's been over a year since they the roof. (fix)
  • 7
    It's been quite some time since I a mountain. (climb)
  • 8
    It's been two weeks since she her arm. (break)
Exercise C — Correct or Incorrect?

Is the sentence correct or incorrect?

  • 1
    It's been a month since he changed jobs.
    ✓ Correct — the verb after "since" is Past Simple.
  • 2
    It's been years since we go camping.
    ✓ Correct — This sentence is wrong. It needs the Past Simple: "since we went camping."
  • 3
    It is a year since he retired.
    ✓ Correct — This sentence is wrong. It needs "has been": "It has been a year since he retired."
  • 4
    It's been six months since I learned to drive.
    ✓ Correct — the structure is correctly built.
  • 5
    It's been since a decade I visited home.
    ✓ Correct — This sentence is wrong. "A decade" is misplaced: "It's been a decade since I visited home."
  • 6
    It's been a long time since they last spoke.
    ✓ Correct — "last" is correctly placed before the verb.
  • 7
    How long has it been since you have eaten?
    ✓ Correct — This sentence is wrong. After "since," use the Past Simple: "since you ate."
  • 8
    It's been ages since he last shaved.
    ✓ Correct — the whole structure is correctly built.
Exercise D — Build the Sentence

Write the missing "It's been…" part with the time words.

  • 1
    since we spoke. (a month)
  • 2
    since he called. (ages)
  • 3
    since she graduated. (a year)
  • 4
    since I read a book. (a while)
  • 5
    since they arrived. (two weeks)
  • 6
    since that building closed. (decades)
  • 7
    since we last caught up. (too long)
  • 8
    since they married. (six years)
Exercise E — How Long Has It Been?

Write the subject and the Past Simple of the verb.

  • 1
    How long has it been since ? (you / drive)
  • 2
    How long has it been since a movie? (she / watch)
  • 3
    How long has it been since ? (they / argue)
  • 4
    How long has it been since the bell? (he / ring)
  • 5
    How long has it been since ? (we / meet)
  • 6
    How long has it been since a muscle? (you / pull)
  • 7
    How long has it been since ? (it / rain)
  • 8
    How long has it been since ? (they / speak)
7 Choose the Right Sentence
Apply What You Know

Read each question. Choose the sentence that matches.

Question 1 of 8
Select the correctly ordered sentence.
Question 2 of 8
Select the sentence with the correct verb after "since."
Question 3 of 8
Select the correctly formed sentence.
Question 4 of 8
Select the correctly formed question.
Question 5 of 8
Select the sentence that correctly uses "last" correctly.
Question 6 of 8
Select the WRONG sentence.
Question 7 of 8
Select the correctly formed formal sentence.
Question 8 of 8
Select the sentence with the correct verb after "since."
8 Summary
It's Been + Time + Since This tells how much time has passed since the last time something happened.
  • Order: It's been + time + since + subject + Past Simple verb.
  • The time goes between been and since.
  • After since, always use the Past Simple.
  • Use has been or 's been. Do not use is.
  • Last is optional. It means "the most recent time."
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