Practice
Since or for: choose the right time phrase
Sign in to saveSince and for can describe the same situation, but they give different time information. Since tells us when it started. For tells us how long it lasted or has lasted.
Choose since for the point when a period began and for for the length of that period, including with present-perfect sentences.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
since Monday and for two weeks /sɪns ˈmʌndeɪ/ and /fə tuː wiːks/
The short answer
Choose since before the beginning of a period. Choose for before the amount of time in that period.
I have lived in this neighborhood since 2022.
Why it works: 2022 is the point when living in the neighborhood began.
4 more examples
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The library has been quieter since the exam week ended.
The clause names the event that started the quieter period.
Not this:The library has been quieter
for three days. What changes: Three days is a duration, so it follows for. -
We waited for a taxi for twenty minutes.
The final phrase tells us the length of the wait.
Not this:We have waited for a taxi
since noon. What changes: Noon is the point when the waiting began. -
My aunt stayed with us for a week in July.
For gives the duration even though the visit is finished.
Not this:My aunt has stayed with us
since Monday. What changes: Monday names the beginning of a visit that is still continuing. -
The garden has looked dry since the hot weather began.
Since can be followed by a clause that gives a starting event.
Not this:The garden has looked dry
for several weeks. What changes: Several weeks gives the length of the dry period.
Read the full guide
Check the time phrase after the word. A day, date, year, clock time, or starting event usually follows since. A number plus a time unit, or a phrase such as a long time, follows for.
Start with the time question
Ask whether you are naming the beginning or measuring the period. Since answers When did it start? For answers How long did it last?
The café has been open since 7:00.
7:00 is a starting point. It does not measure a length of time.
Put a starting point after since
A starting point can be a day, month, year, date, clock time, or event. After since, an event can be a clause with a subject and a verb.
I have used this laptop since last summer.
The room has felt warmer since the sun came out.
Last summer and the sun came out both identify when the period began.
Put a duration after for
Use for with an amount of time. The phrase may be exact, such as forty minutes or six months, or general, such as a while or a long time.
They have practiced for forty minutes.
Forty minutes tells us the length of the practice.
Use present perfect when the situation continues
When a situation began earlier and is still true now, English often uses have or has with a past participle. Since and for fit naturally in this pattern because they connect past time with the present.
Rina has worked at the clinic for five years.
What information would since give in a sentence about Rina's job?
It would name the point when the job began, such as since 2021.
For also works with finished events
For is not limited to the present perfect. Use it with a past-tense verb when the event happened in a finished time period.
We discussed the plan for an hour yesterday.
Yesterday places the discussion in finished time, while for an hour still gives its duration.
Watch for two uses of for
Some sentences contain for twice. One for may belong to the verb phrase, and the other may give a duration. Read the words after each one.
I have looked for my keys for ten minutes.
For my keys tells us what I looked for. For ten minutes tells us how long the search has continued.
Before you go
Remember this
Use since with the beginning and for with the length. Read the words that follow: a point in time or starting event takes since; a measured period takes for.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Since or for: choose the right time phrase"
What is the difference between since and for?
Use since for the point when a period began and for for its length. Since 2022 names a beginning, while for four years tells us how long the period has continued.
I have lived in this neighborhood since 2022.
Do I use since or for with a year?
Use since with a particular year when it marks the beginning of the situation. A phrase such as four years is a duration, so it takes for.
I have lived in this neighborhood for four years.
Can since be followed by an event?
Yes. Since can introduce a clause that names the starting event. In since the exam week ended, the clause tells the listener when the quieter period began.
The library has been quieter since the exam week ended.
Do since and for always need the present perfect?
They are common with the present perfect when a situation started earlier and continues now. For also works with a finished past event when the sentence gives a completed duration.
The library has been quieter for three days.
Why can a sentence have for twice?
The two occurrences can do different jobs. In We waited for a taxi for twenty minutes, the first for introduces the thing wanted, and the second for gives the duration.
We waited for a taxi for twenty minutes.