Since vs. For. Tense & Time Confusion

 

• by Grace

Many English learners feel confused when using “since” and “for” to talk about time. Although both are used with present perfect and past perfect tenses, they have different meanings and purposes.

In this blog post, we will learn the clear difference between since and for through short examples, simple rules, and helpful tables. This lesson will make it easier for you to use them correctly in daily conversation and writing.

Basic Difference

Word	Meaning	Use with Time	Example
Since	From a specific point in the past	Exact time	I have lived here since 2010.
For	A length or period of time	Duration	I have lived here for 10 years.

Grammar Role

Both “since” and “for” are prepositions of time, and they are mainly used with:

• Present Perfect Tense → has/have + past participle
• Past Perfect Tense → had + past participle

But the time expression is different:

• Use “since” to refer to the starting point of time.
• Use “for” to talk about the total duration of the action.

What is “Since”?

• Since shows the starting point of an action.
• It tells us when something began.

Use “since” with:

• A year – since 2005
• A date – since July 1st
• A day – since Monday
• A time – since 8 a.m.
• A past event – since I was a child

Examples:

• She has worked here since 2018.
• I’ve known him since school days.
• We’ve lived in Lahore since last year.

What is “For”?

• For shows the total time something has happened.
• It tells us the length or duration.

Use “for” with:

• Number of days – for 3 days
• Months/Years – for 2 months / for 5 years
• Hours/Minutes – for 2 hours
• A long/short time – for a long time

Examples:

• I’ve been waiting for an hour.
• She has lived abroad for six years.
• We studied English for two months.

Since vs. For with Examples

Use Case	Since Example	For Example
Exact time	She has been here since 5 p.m.	She has been here for 3 hours.
Starting point	He has worked here since 2010.	He has worked here for 13 years.
Past event	I’ve lived here since childhood.	I’ve lived here for my whole life.

Quick Tips

• Use since = when something started

• Use for = how long it has continued

Example:

I have been learning English
 since 2020 (start time)
 for 4 years (duration)

Sentences Using Since:

• We have lived in this house since 2014.
• He has been missing since last night.
• I have known her since school days.
• They’ve not spoken since their fight.
• It hasn’t rained since Monday.

Sentences Using For:

• I have worked here for 6 years.
• She stayed at the hotel for a week.
• They waited for two hours.
• He has studied English for a long time.
• We were on vacation for ten days.

Common Mistakes

Wrong Sentence	Correct Sentence
I’ve lived here since five years.	I’ve lived here for five years.
She’s been sick for Monday.	She’s been sick since Monday.
We’ve studied since two months.	We’ve studied for two months.

Understanding the difference between “since” and “for” helps you speak correct English when talking about time.

• Use “since” with a starting time.

• Use “for” with a duration.

Short Quiz: Choose “Since” or “For”

1. I have been sick ______ Monday.

2. She has waited ______ 30 minutes.

3. They have been friends ______ childhood.

4. We lived there ______ 10 years.

5. He has worked here ______ 2018.

Answers:

1. since

2. for

3. since

4. for

5. since

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Prepositions AT, IN, ON for places –mind map

 

https://tinyurl.com/msa2dmmh

Prepositions AT IN ON for time

 

https://tinyurl.com/bdf87rtx

Prepositional Phrases List in English

 

Предлог в английском языке (The Preposition)

 

Предлог — это служебное слово, которое показывает отношения существительного или местоимения с другими словами в предложении.

Предлоги по форме делятся на:

1. простые (in, to, on etc.);
2. составные (upon, into etc.);
3. групповые (according to согласно, in front of перед etc.).

N. B.	Между английскими и русскими предлогами нет постоянного соответствия. Один и тот же английский предлог может переводиться различными русскими предлогами, и наоборот:
	I am standing at the window. I get up at seven o'clock. Книга на столе. Он посмотрел на меня.	Я стою у окна. Я встаю в семь часов. The book is on the table. He looked at me.

Некоторые глаголы в английском языке требуют после себя предлога: to wait for ждать, to listen to слушать, to depend on зависеть от, to rely on полагаться на и т. д.

N. B.

Некоторые предлоги совпадают по форме с наречиями, различить их можно по роли в предложении: предлоги в отличие от наречий не несут на себе смыслового ударения.

ОСНОВНЫЕ АНГЛИЙСКИЕ ПРЕДЛОГИ И ИХ ЗНАЧЕНИЯ
№ п/п	ПРЕДЛОГ	ОСНОВНЫЕ ЗНАЧЕНИЯ
		ВРЕМЯ	МЕСТО И НАПРАВЛЕНИЕ	ДРУГОЕ
1	ABOUT	около	около, вокруг, кругом	о, об, около
2	ABOVE		над, выше
3	ACROSS		поперек, через, на ту сторону
4	AFTER	после	за, вслед за
5	AGAINST			против
6	ALONG		вдоль, по
7	AMONG (AMONGST)		между, среди
8	AT	в	у, возле, около
9	BEFORE	до, перед	перед
10	BEHIND		позади, за
11	BELOW		под, ниже
12	BESIDE		рядом с, около
13	BESIDES			кроме (сверх)
14	BETWEEN		между
15	BEYOND		по ту сторону, за
16	BY	к	у, возле, около, мимо	1) обозначает действующее лицо; 2) средство или способ совершения действия
17	DOWN		вниз по, с
18	DURING	в течение, во время
19	EXCEPT			кроме (за исключением)
20	FOR	в течение, на		для, за
21	FROM	от, с	от, с
22	IN	в, через, за, в течение	в
23	INSIDE		внутри, внутрь
24	INTO		в
25	OF			1) употребляется в выражениях, отвечающих на вопросы кого? чего? 2) из; 3) в
26	OFF		с, со
27	ON (UPON)	в	на	по, об, о
28	OUT OF		из (изнутри)
29	OUTSIDE		вне, за пределами, за пределы
30	OVER	более, свыше	над, через	свыше, сверх
31	PAST	после	мимо
32	ROUND, AROUND		вокруг, кругом
33	SINCE	с, с тех пор как
34	THROUGH		через, сквозь	из-за, вследствие
35	TILL, UNTIL	до, вплоть до
36	TO		в, на, к	употребляется в выражениях, отвечающих на вопросы кому? чему?
37	TOWARDS	к	к, по направлению к
38	UNDER		под	меньше
39	UP		вверх по, по
40	WITH			с
41	WITHIN	в течение, не позднее чем через
42	WITHOUT			без

https://cutt.ly/S2pjSP3

Prepositions - 4

 

About: They have a discussion about football.

Above: A plane is flying above the village.

Abroad: Mary went abroad.

According to: According to my family, I’m a clever student.

Across: You can swim across the river.

After: I slept after I arrived my house.

Against: This company is up against the bankruptcy.

Ago: She came back school a while ago.

Ahead of: We are ahead of our work schedule.

Along: Are you going along?

Amidst: I think my sister was luck woman. My sister was born and reared amidst plenty.

Among: I want to live in a home among trees.

Amongst: She is a girl amongst women.

Apart: Apart from the football, he plays basketball and tennis.

Around: He left around 6:40.

As: As it’s raining again, we’ll not play tennis.

As far as: As far as I’m concerned, we’re bad situation.

As well as: My son plays the piano as well as he plays basketball.

Aside: My family has a little money put aside.

At: She was at home.

Away: Put your laptop away.

Because of: She was late because of missing the train.

Before: C goes before D in Alphabet.

Behind: The shaker is behind the glass.

Below: It is 20 degrees below zero.

Beneath: Alex is sitting beneath the pine tree.

Beside: My brother sat down beside me.

Besides: Besides, it’s still early for me.

Between: My home is between library and bank.

Beyond: Barcelona football club’s success is beyond question.

But: We are very hungry, but the fridge is empty.

By: I always goes to work by train.

By means of: I wake up seven o’clock by means of an alarm clock.

Despite: I love my wife despite her faults.

Down: Calm down my friend!

Due to: Her success was due to her family.

During: I met the intern during lunch.

Except: Nobody came the party except George and Alex.

For: Is the coffee too hot for you?

From: Where are you from?

Hence: We travel hence tomorrow to France.

In: I live in London.

In accordance with: In accordance with the doctor, she is very sick.

In addition to: In addition to his car, he has a jeep.

In case of: The alarm will ring in case of theft.

In front of: The supermarket in front of the bank.

In lieu of: I play football in lieu of studying.

In place of: I stayed home in place of going to school.

In spite of: In spite of being a millionaire, he lives in a very small flat.

Inside: They are going inside.

Instead of: My sister should study her lessons instead of watching TV.

Into: Go into the her room and take wallet.

Like: She is very clever like me.

Near: I live near the sea.

Next: The two teams play voleyball  the next day.

Next to: My wallet is next to pen.

Notwithstanding: Notwithstanding the bad weather, they went for a walk.

Of: This is a car of my family.

Off: I gotta take off.

On: My notebook is on the table.

On account of: For some critics we might be uncool on account of our popularity.

On behalf of: She spoke on behalf of the good plan.

Onto: The cat jumped onto the roof.

Opposite: “Tall” is the opposite of “short”.

Out: Cut it out!

Outside: It seems warm outside.

Over: When is party over?

Owing to: Owing to the rain, the soccer match was cancelled.

Past: It is half past seven.

Per: I get paid $3.000 per month.

Prior to: This accident happened prior to my arrival.

Round: They have a round table.

Since: She has been here since 5 O’clock.

Than: He’s older than Mary.

Through: We walked slowly through the road.

Throughout: Throughout history, people have survived a lot of things.

Till: I didn’t eat meat till I was 18.

Times: Two times two is four.

To: It is twenty to two.

Toward: My friend, turn toward me.

Towards: He is walking towards me.

Under: It is under the table.

Underneath: I found the wallet underneath the table.

Unlike: Unlike my sister, I am tall.

Until: Are you going to study until 7?

Up: Please Stand up!

Upon: The earth I’m walk upon doesn’t recognize me.

Via: Can I pay via Visa?

With: Come with me, please.

Within: She arrived within 10 minutes.

Without: I feel sad without you.

Worth: That was worth the wait.

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