have/has + past participle + for + durationUse for before a period of time. The phrase answers How long?
For and Since
A2Use for for a duration and since for a starting point. Both often go with Present Perfect when something began earlier and continues now.
What you'll learn
- Choose for with a length of time.
- Choose since with a starting point.
- Tell duration phrases and start-point phrases apart.
- Recognize common markers used after for and since.
- Use for and since with situations that continue to now.
Structure
have/has + past participle + since + starting pointUse since before the moment something started. The phrase answers From when?
Build a sentence
Subject
Time phrase
Annahasworkedfortwo hours
Anna has worked here for two hours.
Two hours is a duration, so choose for.
When to use
How long
Use for when you answer How long? with a period of time: for ten minutes, for two months, for years.
From when
Use since when you answer From when? with a point in time: since Monday, since 2018, since breakfast.
Still true now
These phrases often show that the action or state began before now and has continued up to now. Anna has worked here since May.
Markers
for two hoursfor a weekfor yearssince Mondaysince 2019since breakfast
Common mistakes
Wrong
Maria has lived here since three years.
Correct
Maria has lived here for three years.
Three years is a duration, so use for, not since.
Wrong
Tom has worked here for 2021.
Correct
Tom has worked here since 2021.
2021 is a starting point, so use since.
Wrong
Lisa has known Sam for last June.
Correct
Lisa has known Sam since last June.
Last June names the beginning, not the length of time.
Wrong
Anna lived here since 2020.
Correct
Anna has lived here since 2020.
Since 2020 shows a situation that started earlier and continues now, so use Present Perfect.
Common misconceptions
❝ For and since both talk about time, so I can choose either one. ❞
They do not mean the same thing. For gives the length of time; since gives the starting point.
❝ Since means a long time. ❞
Since does not mean long. It means from a particular moment until now.
Skills in this rule (5)
USE_FOR_DURATIONw5Use for with a length of time
Use for when you say how long something has continued: for two hours, for a week, for a long time. The phrase gives a duration, not the starting moment.
USE_SINCE_START_POINTw5Use since with a starting point
Use since when you name the moment something started: since Monday, since 2019, since 8 o'clock. The phrase points to the beginning.
TELL_DURATION_FROM_STARTw4Tell duration and starting point apart
Choose for when the answer is a length of time and since when the answer is a date, day, time, or moment. Ask: duration or beginning?
PICK_TIME_MARKERSw3Recognize markers that go with for and since
Durations like two days or a long time go with for. Starting points like yesterday, May, or 6 p.m. go with since.
USE_WITH_PERFECT_ACTIONSw4Use for and since with actions or states that continue to now
Use these phrases with Present Perfect when the situation started earlier and is still true now. The focus is on the time up to the present.