French language Q&A Forum

I've read through the questions and answers below, but still don't understand the following example.

Test question: "I haven't been in France for long?" (ie, I recently arrived and I'm still here; ongoing).

From the lesson it seems the best construction would be: Ne...pas + Présent Indicatif + depuis longtemps (started a short while ago and is still ongoing).

But Kwiziq says the best answer is: Ne...pas + Passé Composé + depuis longtemps (not for a long time / not in ages).

If someone could explain it more clearly, thanks.

Would someone be able to explain the need for the ne in that sentence?  Or link to the lesson that explains it?  I'm stumped.

(it was translated as "Mathilde put the car away before it rained.")

Please can you explain why I can't use Le Samedi at the beginning of the sentence is wrong, yet in the explanation Le is being used!