#0062. Duration of time

1. In Russian we use the expression сколько времени? to ask "for how long" something takes place.

2. This question also means "What time is it?"

3. The answer to this question is always in the accusative case:

   --Сколько времени вы читали?
   --Весь день. Всью субботу. Всё утро.

4. There are two Russian words that are used to express duration of time, and they are sometimes confusing for English speakers. They are долго and давно. They both mean "a long time" or "for a long time".

   The word долго is used to indicate the length of time an action took place or will take place.

   Мы долго делали упражнение.
   Они долго работали в Москве.

5. The word давно is used to indicate an action that began in the past and is going on in the present. It is equivalent to the English expression "(since) a long time ago":

   Вы давно работаете здесь?
   Have you been working here a long time? (since a long time ago)

6. It can also be used to indicate that an action took place a long time ago:

   Этот ресторан построили уже давно.
   They built this restaurant a long time ago.