how many year a

Context, WB.

In order to provide a reasoned response you have to provide context.
Can you make up a situation where you think it could be used?

McTag's "How long's the course?" is the answer but how deep is his valet holding coats.

Meanwhile Contrex's mouth appears to be so full to the brim of succulence and truculence that he is incapable of rejoinder.

Okay, we can and do say,

How long are you in London?

as a short form of

How long are you staying in London?

But can or do we say

How long are you studying at university?

to ask about the length of ones degree program or how long one has
been studying to date?

There appears to be a problem with using the present
continuous/progressive for questions involving "how long" for extended
duration events.

Though studying is a progressive/continuous action it isn't addressed
with a "how long" question .

How long will/are you going to study ... ?

Or

How long have you been studying?

Okay, is that it? The present continuous is excluded for longer term
events

*How long are you living here?*

*.......* denotes ungrammatical

needs

How long have you been living here?

How long are you in London / How long are you staying in London?

is of short enough duration to make the present continuous possible.

Long-winded useless bollocks.

Short winded admission that you don't understand. Not to worry
I knew that would be the case.

I understand that attempts at overcomplication is a sign that you're out of your depth.
It's a sign of other things too, but we have mentioned these before.

Is that really how little you know of science, McTag? Is that really all
you are willing to expend, brain dead prescriptions?

I think less is almost always more.
I think good ideas can be expressed in few words, by those who have them.
I think the direct route is better than the roundabout.

A happy, healthy and prosperous new year to all my readers.

I know that you simply did not understand and you are trying to cover yourself with these bullshit lines that you have cribbed from one of your nonsense style manuals. Yes, I too have read that crap in style manuals, heard it oft repeated by those who don't have the brains or willpower to actually study or think about something they profess to care deeply about.

Showing once again your gift for inaccurate summary and self-delusion, exhibiting lack of manners and class, and apparently clinging to a pathetic belief in your own clairvoyancy.

Shoddy, shocking and deplorable.

It's better not to respond to the troll.

You don't dare respond, C, because your stunning incompetence as an "English teacher" prevents you.

Stop fulminating and wasting your time and mine. If you are capable put forward your ideas.

Let me take you to troll's homepage. Read your My Tags.
http://able2know.org/user/contrex/

(Thanks to Knaivete.)

Timewasting, yes. That about sums JTT up. That, and posturing.

You wouldn't have wasted so much time, McTag, if you were honest enough just to tell everyone that you lack the capability to discuss the issue.

Clearly you are not.

Oh yes I am.

Oh yes you are dishonest and incapable of discussing the language issue.

Look chummy, I decide what I write about and what I write, not you. Okay?

Oh yes you are, big time, dishonest and incapable of discussing the language issue.