♔ FOR & SINCE

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 We often use for and since with the present perfect to talk about something continuing up to the present.

 

FOR + a period

A period is a duration of time, for example: 5 minutes, 2 weeks, 6 years.

For means "from the beginning of the period until the end of the period."

For can be used with all tenses.

 

SINCE + a point

A point is a precise moment in time, for example: 9 o'clock, January 1st, Monday, my birthday.

Since means "from a point in the past until now."

Since is normally used with perfect tenses.

 

In the table below you'll find a summary:

 

FORSINCE
A PERIOD (From Start To End) A POINT (Up To Now)
ALL TENSES PERFECT TENSES
FOR SINCE
20 minutes, three days, 6 months, 4 years, 2 centuries, a long time, ever, etc 9am, Monday, March, 1998, 1666, I left school, the beginning of the year, etc

 

After reading this lesson you may want to do some exercises, then click HERE.