Grammar › Verb Tenses › Since vs For
Since vs For
Use 'since' and 'for' to say how long, usually with the present perfect. Use:
- Since + a starting point — since 2020, since Monday, since I arrived.
- For + a period of time — for two hours, for ten years, for a long time.
Quick test: if it's a point in time, use 'since'; if it's a length of time, use 'for'.
How to choose
| Word | Goes with | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| since | a point in time (when it started) | since 9am, since 2019, since Monday, since I was a child |
| for | a length of time (how long) | for ten minutes, for three days, for years |
The quick test: can you replace it with a number of hours/days/years? Then it’s for. Does it name when something started? Then it’s since.
Since = starting point
- I’ve known her since 2015.
- He’s been ill since Monday.
- Everything has changed since we moved.
For = duration
- We’ve lived here for five years.
- I waited for an hour.
⚠️ Typical error:
I’ve lived here since five years.→ ‘Five years’ is a length of time, so use for: I’ve lived here for five years.
Common mistakes
1. Swapping them. for 2019 → since 2019, and since five years → for five years.
2. Using the wrong tense for a continuing situation. I live here for five years → I’ve lived here for five years.
3. Using ‘since’ with a period. since three days → for three days (or since three days ago).
✏️ Practice: Since vs For
1. I've lived here ___ 2020.
2. We've been married ___ ten years.
3. She's been ill ___ Monday.
4. He waited ___ an hour and then left.
5. I've known them ___ I was a child.
6. Choose the correct version of: 'I've had this car since five years.'
7. They've been studying ___ two hours.
8. Nothing has changed ___ last summer.
9. Choose the sentence with the same meaning as: 'I started this job in 2019 and I'm still here.'
10. We haven't seen each other ___ ages.
11. Fill in the gap
I've lived here ___ 2020.
Type since or for.
12. Correct the mistake
I live here for five years. (still living here)
Type the whole corrected sentence.
13. Correct the mistake
She's been ill since three days.
Type the whole corrected sentence.
Frequently asked questions
What's the quickest way to choose?
If it's a point in time (Monday, 2020, lunchtime), use 'since'. If it's a length of time (two hours, ten years), use 'for'.
Which tense do they go with?
Usually the present perfect for situations continuing now: I've worked here since 2018 / for five years.
Can I use 'since' with a clause?
Yes: since I was a child, since we met. It marks the starting point.
Is 'for' ever dropped?
Sometimes in casual speech ('I've been here two hours'), but including 'for' is always correct.
👩🏫 For teachers
CEFR objectives for “Since vs For”:
- Can choose 'since' (starting point) or 'for' (duration) correctly (CEFR B1).
- Can use both with the present perfect for continuing situations.
- Can correct the typical swap between since and for.
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