Using Since and For Lesson
In English, the prepositions “since” and “for” are essential tools in expressing time. Both are used to talk about a period of time up to the present, but they are used differently. “Since” is used to refer to a specific point in time when something began, and continues until now. It is generally followed by a date, a specific time, or an event. On the other hand, “For” is used to discuss a duration of time. It refers to how long something has been happening and is followed by a period of time. Understanding how to use “since” and “for” correctly can significantly enhance your English fluency, especially in spoken and written narratives.
Use since + (a specific time) like March 31, or 9:19 a.m., or Tuesday.
Examples:
I have been studying English since 1993.
John has helped me since 10:00 this morning.
Those people have been in Europe since August.
Note: Because we are talking about a time in the past until now, we have to use have/has + past participle when we use since.
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Use for + (a length of time) like 1 day, or 3 hours, or 5 years.
Examples:
I have been studying English for 4 years.
John has helped me for 8 hours.
Those people went to Europe for 2 months.
Note: It is possible to use the past tense when you use for if the action is finished.
Test your understanding of how to correctly use “since” and “for” with these ten questions. Each question will require you to fill in the blanks with either “since” or “for,” helping to reinforce your knowledge of these prepositions. This quiz is designed to check your ability to distinguish between points in time and durations, a key skill in mastering English grammar.
Check Your Understanding
Choose the correct answer. Check your answers below.
1. Leslie has lived here ______ (since / for) ten years.
2. I haven’t seen you ______ (since / for) last March.
3. We sat and talked ______ (since / for) 30 minutes.
4. Young-eun studied French ______ (since / for) nine years.
5. Caroline has been learning Spanish ______ (since / for) March 1999.
6. We haven’t had an earthquake ______ (since / for) 23 years.
7. I haven’t heard from you ______ (since / for) Saturday.
8. Molly hasn’t eaten ______ (since / for) 7:00 this morning.
9. He played basketball ______ (since / for) over 20 years.
10. Andre hasn’t seen Becky ______ (since / for) yesterday.
Answer Key:
1. for
2. since
3. for
4. for
5. since
6. for
7. since
8. since
9. for
10. since
Frequently Asked Questions about Using “Since” and “For”
Use “since” to refer to the specific point in time when an action or situation started, and it continues up to the present. For example: “I have been living here since 2010.”
Use “for” when you are talking about the duration of time that an action has been happening. It doesn’t matter when the action started, just the length of time it has continued. For example: “She has been studying for three hours.”
No, “since” cannot be used with finished time periods. It is specifically used for actions or situations that began in the past and are still continuing. For example, it’s incorrect to say, “I worked there since last year.” Instead, you should say, “I have been working there since last year.”
No, “since” should not be used with a duration. It is a common mistake to say something like “since a long time.” Instead, “for” should be used when indicating a duration, such as in “I have known her for a long time.”
A common mistake is using “since” when referring to a duration (e.g., “since two weeks”). Another mistake is using “for” when referring to the start of a period (e.g., “for last year”). Remember, “since” is for when something started, and “for” is for how long it has lasted.