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long and (for) a long time

long in questions and negatives​

Long (meaning ‘(for) a long time’) is most common in questions and negative clauses, and with restrictive words like hardly, seldom.

  • Have you been waiting long?
  • It doesn’t take long to get to her house.
  • She seldom stays long.

(for) a long time in affirmative clauses​

In affirmative clauses we usually prefer (for) a long time.

  • I waited (for) a long time, but she didn’t arrive. (not I waited long …)
  • It takes a long time to get to her house. (not It takes long …)

long in affirmative clauses​

However, long is used in affirmative clauses with too, enough, as and so, and in a few other common expressions.

  • The meeting went on much too long.
  • I’ve been working here long enough. Time to get a new job.
  • You can stay as long as you want.
  • Sorry I took so long.
  • I’ll be back before long.
  • She sits dreaming all day long. (also all night/week/year long)

Long is also used in affirmative clauses to modify adverbs and conjunctions.

  • We used to live in Paris, but that was long before you were born.
  • Long after the accident he used to dream that he was dying.
  • Long ago, in a distant country, there lived a beautiful princess. (rather formal)

for a long time in negative clauses​

When for a long time is used in a negative clause, it sometimes has a different meaning from for long. Compare:

  • She didn’t speak for long. (= She only spoke for a short time.)
    She didn’t speak for a long time. (This could mean ‘She was silent for a long time’ – the same as For a long time she didn’t speak).
  • He didn’t work for long. (= He soon stopped working.)
    He didn’t work for a long time. (This could mean ‘He was unemployed for a long time’ – the same as For a long time he didn’t work).

The reason for the difference is to do with the ‘scope of negation’: in the first and third sentences, not goes with for long, but in the second and fourth for a long time is outside the influence of not (it could go at the beginning of the clause).

How long are you here for?​

Questions like How long are you here for? refer to the future. Compare:

  • ‘How long are you here for?’ ‘Until the end of next week.’
  • ‘How long have you been here for?’ ‘Since last Monday.’

Comparative​

The comparative of for a long time is (for) longer.

  • I hope you’ll stay longer next time. (not … for a longer time.)
note

For no longer, (see here).

Much, many and far are also more common in questions and negative clauses ( (see here), (see here).