For and since

This test comes from http://www.tolearnenglish.com - the site to learn English (test
n19735)

for : We use for when we speak about a period (two hours,six weeks)etc.

example : Sally's been working here for six months .

two hours 20
minutes

a week

five days

a long time

6 months

ages

45 years

since : We use since when we speak about the beginning of a period (8 o'clock)etc.

8 o'clock

Monday

12 May

April

1977

example : Sally's been working here since April.

Bonne chance!

Questions:

1. It\'s been raining _____________________________ lunchtime.

2. Tom\'s father has been doing the same job _____________________________ 20 years
3. Have you been learning English _____________________________ a long time ?
4. Sarah has lived in London _____________________________ 1985.
5. _____________________________ Christmas, the weather has been quite good.
6. Please hurry up! We\'ve been waiting _____________________________ an hour.
7. Kevin has been looking for a job _____________________________ he left school.
8. The house is very dirty. We haven\'t cleaned it _____________________________
ages.
9. I haven\'t had a good meal _____________________________ last Tuesday.
10. I haven\'t seen Tom _____________________________ three days.
10. It's been raining _____________________________ lunchtime.
1. Tom's father has been doing the same job _____________________________ 20 years
2. Have you been learning English _____________________________ a long time ?
3. Sarah has lived in London _____________________________ 1985.
4. _____________________________ Christmas, the weather has been quite good.
5. Please hurry up! We've been waiting _____________________________ an hour.
6. Kevin has been looking for a job _____________________________ he left school.
7. The house is very dirty. We haven't cleaned it _____________________________ ages.
8. I haven't had a good meal _____________________________ last Tuesday.
9. I haven't seen Tom _____________________________ three days.

ANSWERS:

1. since
2. for
3. for
4. since
5. since
6. for
7. since
8. for
9. since
10. for
1. since
2. for
3. for
4. since
5. since
6. for
7. since
8. for
9. since
10. For

For and Since

For and Since : Grammar and Spelling Tips

For
We use for when we are talking about the duration of an action or state:

I have lived in London for seven years. (This tells us how long I have lived in

London)

For is a preposition here.

Since
We use since when we are talking about when the action or state started:

I have lived in London since 1997. (This tells us when I started

living in London.)

Since can be a preposition (since five o'clock) or a conjunction (since I met her).
What is the difference between 'for' and 'since'?

When they means "because", none.

But as time indicator "for" is about how long a period occur while "since" is more about when a
period starts

for
Theyve been working five or six hours.

since
2- Nobody has come to see us we bought this small house.

since
3- She has been a doctor 1998

since
4- Nobody has seen her then.

for
5- They have all been ill the last week.

for
6- My father has been talking to them in that room six or seven hours.

since
7- He bought the car in 1999 and has driven it then.

for
8- Peter went to the library. He has studied there a long time.

since
9- It has been very foggy early morning.

for
10- Ive worked with you nine years.

for
11- I have tried to finish this letter the last half an hour.

for
12- He has been in prison two years.

for
13- Shes worked in that office a month.

for
14- He hasnt eaten anything twenty-four hours.

since
15- He hasnt eaten anything yesterday.

since
16- They hasnt spoken to us we were at school.

since
17- I havent talked to her my birthday.
 for
18- Shes been ill years.

for
19- Ive been very patient with you several years.

for
20- Ive had this job three months.

since
21- Ive known her we both studied in London.

since
22- Weve been living in Germany 1997

since
23- Theyve had this car April.

since
24- Things have changed I was in your house.

for
25- Ive known her ages.

since
26- Ive known her we were students.

since
27- They have lived here 1997

since
28- We have been there October

since
29- I have been a vegetarian 1998

for
30- I have lived in this flat five years.

For and Since Exercise at Auto-English

Fill the gaps with either for or since.

1 I've lived in Spain ________ 11 years now.

2 I've worked at this English school ________ six years.

3 Carlos's had internet at home ________ August last year.

4 I haven't seen Maggie ________ the party.

5 We've been waiting for the bus ________ over half an hour now.

6 I've put on 4 kilos ________ Christmas.

7 That new clothes shop has been open ________ last Saturday.

8 Have you been married ________ a long time?

 9 I've been surfing the net ________ half past seven this morning.

10 The police have been at the scene ________ 3 hours.

11 She's been talking non-stop ________ 20 minutes.

12 Matt hasn't seen Clare ________ his school days.

13 Our boss hasn't come to the office ________ three days now.

14 We haven't been on a day trip to the country ________ September.

15 I haven't been to a football match ________ a long time.

16 I've been living in Spain ________ 1992.

17 I haven't seen Susanne ________ my birthday.

18 She hasn't been to the disco ________ three weeks.

19 I've been living in Spain ________ 8 years.

20 He hasn't cleaned his fridge ________ last summer.

For - Since
English Grammar
The use of FOR

We use For when we measure the duration when we say how long something lasts.

For + a period of time

To measure a period of time up to the present, we use the present perfect tense and not the
present tense.

I have known her for a long time. (Correct)

I know her for a long time. (Incorrect)
I have lived here for ten years. (Correct)
I live here for ten years. (Correct)

The present tense with For refers to a period of time that extends into the future.

How long are you here for? (Until when)

How long have you been here for? (Since when)

In reality, we can use all verb tenses with For.

Uses of For

Example sentence Verb Tense

They exercise for two hours every day. Present tense

 They are exercising for three hours today. Present continuous

He has lived in Moscow for a long time. Present perfect

He has been living in Turin for three months. Present perfect continuous

I worked at the service station for five years. Past tense

He will be in hospital for at least a week. Future tense

However, we don't use For with expressions such as all day or all the time.

I was there all day. (Correct)

I was there for all day. (Incorrect)

The use of SINCE

Since gives the starting point of actions, events or states. It refers to when things began.

Since + a point in time (in the past), until now.

I've been waiting since 7 o'clock.

I have known him since January.

With since we use the present perfect tense or the past perfect tense.

I have been here since 5 o'clock and I am getting tired.

I had been working since 5 o'clock and I was getting tired.

Since can also be used in the structure It has been + period of time + since.

It has been two months since I last saw her.

It has been three years since the last earthquake.

For vs. Since

Knowing when to use FOR and when to use SINCE is important. Therefore it is useful to look
at a summary of the contrast between FOR and SINCE.

FOR to mention a specific period SINCE to mention the starting point of a

(or duration) of time. period of time (continues to now).

I have been a doctor for fifteen years. I have been a doctor since 1992. (starting point =
 (duration = 15 years) 1994)

She has been a mother for six She has been pregnant since her first child was
months. born.

My sister has lived in Frankfurt for My sister has lived in Frankfurt since the beginning
nine months. of March.

Both For and Since are most commonly used with the perfect tense - we don't use these
expressions in the present tense.

Correct Incorrect

I have learnt Russian for three years. I learn Russian for three years.

They have taught geography since last year. They teach geography since last year.

He has owned his dog since his cat died. He owns his dog since his cat dies.

While we can use For in the simple past tense we can't use Since in the simple past tense.
Since can only be used in the perfect tense.

Correct Incorrect

She went to Japan for three years. She went to Japan since 2003.

I studied in New Zealand for one month. I studied in New Zealand since one month.

He walked his dog for four hours. He walked his cat since four hours.

It should be remembered that both For and Since have other meanings in English that are
not associated with time.

This is for you.

Is this the train for London?
Since you asked, I'll say yes.
Since he didn't study he didn't pass the exam.

For is used with a period of time as in for the last week/year/month.

Since is used with a point of time as in since last week/year/month.

As explained by others; 'for and since' are used to refer to a period or point of time.
for: a period of time e.g.: for a month; for three hours etc.
since : expressing time factor with a point of time;
e.g. since six o'clock; since Wednesday last etc.
Apart from this, it should be noted that they are especially used in perfect tense forms.

I was asking about last week, looks like it can be a point of time and also a period. I like
Alan's explanation. Now I can see the difference between 'for the last week' and 'since last
week'. That's all I wanted to know. The article 'the' makes the difference.
But thanks anyway.

I think still you have not clearly understood the use of these two words-for and since.

For: a period of time. For a week; for a month; for three hours etc.

Since : since last year; since last week; since three o'clock

I have been wating for you for the past three hours.
I have waited here since 9 in the morning expecting you to meet me here and take me
home.
I have been working in this company since 1997.(You are still with them.)
I have worked for this company for more than eight years.(This also means that you are
still with them.)

1. a long period.
2. six years.
3. 1995 .
4. six weeks
5. eight months
6. the beginning of the year.
7. a long time .
8. ages .
9. March 18.
10 the end of last year.
11 I joined the firm.
12. ten hours.
13. ten o'clock.
14. ten minutes .
15. a six month period.

Bbc

Present perfect with for and since

Estrella from Spain from Burcin from Turkey writes:
'Which is
correct: Ive
been to
Canada for
ten months or
Ive been in
Canada for
ten months?'
(Estrella)
'My biggest
problem is use
of the present
perfect and
present perfect
continuous
tense.' (Burcin)

Roger Woodham replies:

Ive been to Canada.

Ive been in Canada for ten months.

Been is used in two different ways here, Estrella. If you say: Ive
been to Canada , that means that you have visited Canada and have
now returned home. You are not still there. But if you say you have
been somewhere for ten months, that means you are still there. For
this reason we cannot use for ten months in the first sentence.

Present perfect: for finished actions important now

One of the functions of the present perfect is to describe finished

actions that are important now. Ive been to Canada fits into this
category. Study the following examples. They belong in this category
too:
You have received a letter from the examination authorities. You are
smiling because you have opened the letter and have discovered that
you have passed the FCE exam.
Your brother has passed his driving test and has just bought a new car.
You have decided to ask him for a lift to work every day

Present perfect: connecting the past to the present and future

Ive been in Canada for ten months.

Your second sentence, Estrella, tells us that you have been there for
ten months, are still there and will probably remain there for some
time. This is a further function of the present perfect: to connect the
past with the present and to suggest continuation in the future. The
following examples all illustrate this idea:
- Do you know Hamish?
- Of course. Ive known him for years.
- You dont look very happy!
- Ive had a headache all day and I cant get rid of it.
- How did the operation go?
- The doctor says Ive made a good recovery and should be back at
work in two weeks.
- I havent seen the Smiths lately.
- No, theyve moved away from the area.

Present perfect continuous

The present perfect continuous, Burcin, is particularly useful for

emphasising the continuing nature of the activity, It focuses on the
length of time actions have lasted and is often used with for and since
time expressions. It usually answers the how long question:
- How long have you been living in Canada now?
- Ever since 1992.
- How long have you been learning French?
- For about eight years, on and off.
- Have you been working all that time?
- No, Ive only been working since the children started school.

Note the difference in use between for and since. For + time
expression describes a period of time up to the present. Since refers
back to the starting point.

Note also from these examples above that since as a time marker can
be used as a preposition with nouns with the present perfect and
present perfect continuous and also as a conjunction introducing its
own clause when it is often used with the past simple. Here are some
more examples of this:

Ive had six different jobs since I left school.

But Ive been out of work since Christmas.
I havent smoked a cigarette since ten oclock last night.
Ive been much healthier since I gave up smoking.

For & Since with Present Perfect Tense

We often use for and since with the present perfect tense.

We use for to talk about a period of time - 5 minutes, 2 weeks, 6 years.

We use since to talk about a point in past time - 9 o'clock, 1st January, Monday.
 for since

a period of time a point in past time

x------------

20 minutes 6.15pm

three days Monday

6 months January

4 years 1994

2 centuries 1800

a long time I left school

ever the beginning of time

etc etc

Here are some examples:

I have been here for 20 minutes.

I have been here since 9 o'clock.
John hasn't called for 6 months.
John hasn't called since February.
He has worked in New York for a long time.
He has worked in New York since he left school.

For can be used with all tenses. Since is usually

used with perfect tenses only.

TENSES

PRESENT PERFECT + for, since

Using the present perfect, we can define a period of time before now by considering its duration,
with for + a period of time, or by considering its starting point, with since + a point in time.

For + a period of time:

for six years, for a week, for a month, for hours, for two hours.
I have worked here for five years.

Since + a point in time:

since this morning, since last week, since yesterday,

since I was a child, since Wednesday, since 2 o'clock.
I have worked here since 1990.

More examples:

present perfect with for:

a. She has lived here for twenty years.

b. We have taught at this school for a long time.
c. Alice has been married for three months.
d. They have been at the hotel for a week.

present perfect with since:

a. She has lived here since 1980.

b. We have taught at this school since 1965.
c. Alice has been married since March 2nd.
d. They have been at the hotel since last Tuesday.

Note:
1. For and since can both be used with the past perfect.
2. Since can only be used with perfect tenses, for can also be used with the simple past.

What are the prepositions for and since?

The prepositions for and since express the duration of an action or situation. For example:

Paul: How long have you lived in Australia?

Jen: I have lived here for one year.

Nicole: How long have you worked downtown?

Kevin: I have worked there since 2007.

Both answers explain how long the action or situation has continued.

Here we will look at for and since only with the present perfect tense. When used with the present
perfect, for and since mean that the events haven't ended yet. So in the above examples, Jen is still in
Australia and Kevin is still working downtown.
What is the sentence structure?
The structure is relatively easy. Always make sure the sentences use the present perfect, which
consists of have + past participle. For example: I have lived in Australia for one year.

S + V + O/C | for | period of time

I have dated him | for | two months.

He has lived at home | for | almost one year.

S + V + O/C | since | starting point

I have dated him | since | October.

He has lived at home | since | last February.

In addition, the starting point may be expressed as a complete sentence in the past tense.

I have dated him | since | I graduated high school.

He has lived at home | since | he lost his job.

How are these prepositions used?

As previously stated, for and since express the duration of an action or situation. There is the added
meaning that the action has continued up to now and the action will continue into the future. When you
want to emphasize how long the action has continued, then use for. When you want to emphasize
when the action started, then use since. Let's look at the following:

Hugh has studied medicine for three years.

This sentence focuses on the duration of Hugh's studies, which is three years. He began in 2005, is
still there in 2008 (now), and will continue to be there for the foreseeable future.

Hugh has studied medicine since 2005.

This sentence focuses on when Hugh started his studies, which was in 2005. Because we know
when he began medical school, we also know how long he has been there.

Hugh has studied medicine since his mother died.

This sentence also focuses on the start of Hugh's studies. The reference point is on an action rather
than a date, and the description since his mother died provides additional information. Here the event
(the death of Hugh's mom) may provide the reason for his medical studies.

Is there additional information on for and since?

Yes, there is one point. For and since both place emphasis on the duration of the action, and may be
used with other perfect tenses. But when used with a perfect progressive tense, a little more emphasis
is placed on the action than the duration.

SINCE and FOR

with the Present Perfect Tense

SINCE means 'from some definite POINT in the past till NOW'. It is used
with the beginning of an action (since two o'clock, since 1989, since my last
birthday)

FOR means 'length of time up to NOW'. It is used for a period of time (for
two weeks)

Examples:

1. Peter has been in England for three weeks. (and he is still there)
2. John has known his friend since 1985. (and he still knows him)

3. It has rained. (the streets are wet)

4. She has not slept well therefore she looks tired.

All these actions reach up to the present.

The Pres. Perfect Tense is often used with such adverbs as

today, this week, this year, so far (= bisher, bis jetzt), up to now (= bis jetzt),
often, always, never, ever, not yet, recently (= lately)

Jacob Thursday, June 19, 2003, 12:33 GMT

Consider the listener's perspective. After hearing your sentence, does he know
(a) precisely what amount of time is involved (a quantity, with units), or (b)
what event precipitated the beginning of the time period? Even if you say, "I've
been spending 3 times more on gasoline since I've had this car," what we know
is that the time period began when you got the car, but we have no idea how
long that time period was.

Baba Thursday, June 19, 2003, 17:19 GMT

Hi,

I thank you for your comments about my question. I'm delighted people are
interested to master english language. It's very interesting to read your
comments.

Indeed, the best way to master the grammar is the daily practice as you said.
The difference between "for" and "since" is also the same like "like" and "as".
That requires the practice in order to master the rule. The simple rule doesn't
work.

Tom Thursday, June 19, 2003, 22:49 GMT

Jacob,

No, he doesn't know what event started the time period. Perhaps I bought the
car, perhaps I inherited it, or acquired it in some other way. The sentence
doesn't talk about any event.
 The fact that it does not specify the exact length of time is irrelevant. Consider
"I've had this car for I don't know how long." -- this is still a sentence that refers
to a period of time.

Jacob Friday, June 20, 2003, 00:01 GMT

I hope I'm providing constructive dialogue and not coming across as

argumentative.

The sentence refers, tacitly, to your acquisition of your car. "This condition
began when Tom acquired the car" is the direct reason that `since' should be
used. "I don't know how long it's been" is the indirect reason; that means that
`for' couldn't possibly be appropriate.

If I may suggest another trick for helping make the decision when your intuition
fails you: when you consider your scenario, ask yourself, "When did this
situation begin?", and then answer the question. If you can phrase your answer
in the form ' .... ago' then the `for' construction is appropriate. Otherwise,
`since' is appropriate. Just another rule of thumb; I don't know if it helps.
Counterexamples, as always, would be welcome.

This discussion interests me because I wasn't even aware that it's a difficulty for
students of English. There are some rules and grammar issues that even native
speakers do poorly with. But I've never heard -- and can't imagine hearing -- a
native speaker err on the for/since distinction. To be honest, I'd never even
considered the two words similar before! So it's intriguing.

# FOR and SINCE

We use for and since to say how long.

We use for and since with the present perfect or the present perfect continuous.
for five days
We use for + a period of time 1 2 3 4 5
Beginning End
Ex.: I have been ill for five days.
 I have been working for hours.

We use since + the start of the period

since Monday
Monday today
Beginning End
Ex.: He has been in London since Monday.
He has been living in London since 2003.
 Comparison:
(1) I have been living in Canada since September. (= from September to
now)
I have been living in Canada for two months. (not since two months)
(2) I have known him since 2003. (= from 2003 to now)
I have known him for a long time. (not since a long time)

We can also use for with the past simple, the present continuous or the
future.

Ex. : I stayed in Canada for two months.

Im going to Canada for two months.
Ill be in Canada for two months.

For/since

War does not determine who is right - only who is left.

Bertrand Russell

The words for and since are used in sentences where the speaker wants to talk about
something that started in the past and continues into the present.

For is used when specifying the amount of time (how long):

I've had this watch for more than 40 years.

I've only known her for a few weeks.
He's been here for 6 months and still can't speak a word of German.
She's been smoking for a long time. No wonder she coughs so much!

Since is used when specifying the starting point:

I've had this watch since 1965.

I've only known her since the beginning of last week.
He's been here since April and he still can't speak a word of German.
She's been smoking since she started grade 5. No wonder she coughs so much!

Note: The present perfect or present perfect continuous are needed in such sentences. It
is wrong to say:

- I know her for two years.

- I know her since 2006.
 Q1. I've had my computer for more than five years.
Fo
r
for
or
si
nc since
e?

C
l
i
c
k Q2. She has spoken 3 languages since she was a child.

t for
h
e
since
w
o
r
d

w
h Q3. It's ok. I've only been waiting for a few minutes.
i
c
h for

i since
s

c
o
r
r
e
c Q4. I haven't played tennis since I came to Germany.
t
for
i
n since

t
h
e

s
e
n Q5. Our family has lived in this house since just after the war.
t
 e for
n
c
since
e

o
n

t
h
e Q6. Why are you so late? I've been standing here since 7.30.

r
for
i
g
h since
t
.

Fo
r/s
Q7. I've been looking for my keys for the last 10 minutes. Can you help me?
inc
e
for
inf
or
since
m
ati
on

Where's Miho? - Didn't you know? She's been in hopsital since yesterday
Q8.
morning.

for

since

Q9. It's been raining for for over three hours. When will it ever stop?
 for

since

Our cat has been missing since last Tuesday. We think it's been in an
Q10.
accident.

for

since

Q11. Have you been sitting here for long?

for

since

Q12. The house opposite us has been empty for the last 8 months.

for

since

Q13. Since when have you been wearing contact lenses?

 For

Since

Q14. I've haven't seen her for ages.

for

since

Q15. He hasn't used his car since he had the accident.

for

since

The last time I ate out was on my birthday. I haven't been to a restaurant
Q16.
since then.

for

since

Q17. She hasn't been sleeping well since she flew back from Japan.
 for

since

Q18. I'd been working in the garden since breakfast and was getting very tired.

for

since

Q19. By the time I'm 65 I will have been working here for 40 years!

for

since

Q20. Since when did you have permission to use my phone without asking?

For

Since