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I want to say I've been having a problem being in a relationship with a girl since I first started to have a relationship with a girl. Can I say like this?

For as long as I can remember, I've been having a problem being in a relationship with a girl.

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  • Where from do you bring those sentences! isn't it "As long as I remember, I have had problem to have relationship with girls" – Ahmad Sep 5 '15 at 11:13
  • @Ahmad no, OP's construction is (almost) perfect. – laureapresa Sep 5 '15 at 11:39
  • Just a note: I wouldn't use a problem, because it sounds like you had the same exact issue with all women you have ever dated. I would use "problems" or, as suggested, "trouble" – laureapresa Sep 5 '15 at 11:40
  • @laureapresa could you please analyze his sentence, what "been" or "been having" and "being"... do in the sentence? – Ahmad Sep 5 '15 at 11:44
  • @Ahmad "have been having" is the verb, in the present perfect continuous tense (we could discuss whether one should use "have had" or "have been having"). When it comes to "being", there has been a similar question here – laureapresa Sep 6 '15 at 9:23
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Yes, that's exactly how you should use it.

"For as long as I can remember" is a literal phrase, and literally means for as long as you can remember. However it may be used either to refer to how far back in time you can remember, or it may refer to the fact you cannot remember an example of a time when it was untrue.

In this particular case, I suspect your confusion comes from the fact that "As long as you can remember" may go back further than the first time you had a relationship with a girl. Don't worry, that doesn't exclude the use of this phrase.

The thing to note, therefore, is that "For as long as I can remember" to a certain extent "For as long as it has been relevant".

Two example uses

For as long as I can remember, I have had trouble with women

The reader will not assume that you had trouble with women as a child, but that you are referring to the earliest adult relationship you can recall. In this context, you are saying that all instances of relationships that you can remember, have been difficult.

For as long as I can remember, I've been able to drive

In this context you are stating that you cannot remember a time when you were unable to drive.

Your confusion seems to be because you're using the phrase in the first sense, which sounds strange if you think of it in the second. Both uses are valid.

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The phrase "for as long as" or "ust as long as" is used to mean provided that, since, during the time that. If you look at these senses, you will find that the phrase doesn't fit well in the sentence.

I think you should use the phrase "as far as" in the sentence, which means to the extent that.

As far as I can emember, I have been having a problem being in a relationship with a girl.

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  • "I've been having a problem being in a relationship with a girl"?!!! its a weird construction to me! Doesn't it need a preposition like "I've been having a problem with being in a relationship with a girl" – Ahmad Sep 5 '15 at 11:08
  • Yes and no. In formal written English it would be technically correct, but in spoken or informal English (where we would see that phrase) it would be fine – Jon Story Sep 5 '15 at 11:09
  • @JonStory do you mean in written English that sentence is incorrect? Also is the sentence "As long as I remember, I have had problem to have relationship with girls", Why "I have been having problem being", oops that's so complex – Ahmad Sep 5 '15 at 11:16
  • I mean that 'with' in that sentence is technically correct but would probably not be used informally (and if you're talking about relationships, you are probably talking informally). – Jon Story Sep 5 '15 at 11:48

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