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How long have you been living vs. How long have you lived

hirashin

Sempai
Donor
8 Apr 2004
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Hello, native speakers.
I have a question.
Would both be used?
(a) How long have you been living in this town? --- I've been living here for about ten years.
(b) How long have you lived in this town? --- I've lived here for about ten years.

Thanks in advance.
Hirashin
 
And I think either answer could be used with either question. These sound fine, too:

(a) How long have you been living in this town? --- I've lived here for about ten years.
(b) How long have you lived in this town? --- I've been living here for about ten years.
 
(a) How long have you been living in this town? --- I've been living here for about ten years.
(b) How long have you lived in this town? --- I've lived here for about ten years.

As has been mentioned, both are possible. However the present perfect continuous (a) implies a more temporary situation than present perfect simple (b), especially when discussing "how long".
 
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