For and Since in English

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For and since are two prepositions in English used to indicate time and duration.

For means “during”, “by”. It is used to express a period of time. For example: She has lived in this house for three years. / She has lived in this house for three years.

Since means "from". It is used to express the exact beginning of a period of time. For example:I have known Joyce since March./ I've known Joyce since March.

For and since are used in response to questions with How long… ?For example: How long have you worked here? For 5 years. – Since 5 years ago./ How long have you been working here? 5 years ago.

• See also: Time prepositions "in», «on», «at»

Difference between forand since

For and since are used differently:

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For	Since
It means "does", "during", "by". Liam has been playing tennis for 10 years. Liam has been playing tennis for 10 years.	It means "from". Liam has been playing tennis since 2013. Liam has been playing tennis since 2013.
Express a period of time.	Expresses the beginning of a period of time.
Used in conjunction with a number of days, months, or years:for two months, for a year, for three weeks.	It is used together with an exact date (year, day) or with a period of time + aug: since 2015, since yesterday, since two years ago.
It expresses the duration of an action, which can be present, past or future. They always play tennis for 2 hours. (present) We lived in Canada for six weeks.(past) I will stay in London for a week.(future)	It expresses the beginning of an action that began in the past and that may or may not continue in the present. It has been raining since yesterday.(continues in the present) They had been working there since a year before. (does not continue in the present)
It is used with all tenses.	It is only used with the present perfect simple, he present perfect continuous and the past perfect.

When for is used together with present perfect, the action continues in the present, whereas when used together with the past simple, the action started and ended in the past. For example:

• my grandparents have lived in Toronto for 20 years. (present perfect + forexpresses that the action continues in the present)
• my grandparents lived in Toronto for 20 years. (past simple + forexpresses that the action ended in the past)

Attention: Although the preposition during means "during" in Spanish, its use in place of for.

• It can help you: Adverbs in English

Sentences with for

1. They have been married for three years.
   They have been married for three years.
2. I will stay in London for the weekend.
   I'm staying in London for the weekend.
3. Terry has been learning English for many years.
   Terry has been learning English for many years.
4. She is staying over for the night.
   She will sleep over tonight.
5. I have been waiting for an hour.
   He's been waiting for an hour.
6. You must take these antibiotics for a week.
   You must take these antibiotics for a week.
7. Charles III has been king since 2022.
   Carlos III has been king since the year 2022.
8. You've been my friend since childhood.
   You have been my friend since childhood.
9. My friends were quarreling for over an hour yesterday.
   My friends were fighting for over an hour yesterday.
10. We've lived here for to decade.
    We have lived here for a decade.
11. I work out every day for an hour.
    I exercise every day for an hour.
12. We haven't seen each other for long.
    We haven't seen each other for a long time.
13. I haven't been sleeping well for the past few days.
    I haven't been sleeping well for the past few days.
14. The children were playing soccer for three hours.
    The children were playing soccer for three hours.
15. I have known Julie for for a long time.
    I have known Julie for a long time.
16. He stayed at cheap hostels for most of his trip from her.
    She stayed in cheap hostels for most of her trip.
17. Jane will travel across Europe for two months.
    Jane will travel through Europe for two months.
18. My parents always walk the dog out for a couple of hours.
    My parents always walk the dog for a couple of hours.
19. I've had these shoes for a year.
    I have these shoes for a year.
20. That house has been uninhabited for as long as I can remember.
    That house has been uninhabited for as long as I can remember.
21. We've been waiting for the bus for 30 minutes.
    We have been waiting for the bus for 30 minutes.
22. He's known the secret for a long while.
    She has known the secret for a long time.
23. Miss Williams has been a school teacher for twenty years.
    Miss Williams has been a school teacher for twenty years.
24. Grandpa had been in hospital for a week before he was discharged.
    Grandpa had been in the hospital for a week before he was released.
25. Mom had worked at university for six years before she became principal.
    Mom had worked at the university for six years before becoming principal.
26. They've lived in Ireland for over two decades.
    They have lived in Ireland for over two decades.

Sentences with since

1. I've had this car since January.
   I have this car since January.
2. Ella she's played the piano since she was a child.
   He has played the piano since she was a child.
3. Dave has been learning German since two years ago.
   Dave has been learning German for two years.
4. The patient has been in the doctor's office since 2 o'clock.
   The patient has been in the doctor's office since 2 o'clock.
5. I haven't seen Jim since yesterday.
   I haven't seen Jim since yesterday.
6. I've had this headache since Sunday.
   He's had this headache since Sunday.
7. My brother has been sleeping since 9 last night.
   My brother has been sleeping since 9 last night.
8. It's been snowing since morning.
   He has been snowing since morning.
9. Bob has been here since noon.
   Bob's been here since noon.
10. They haven't contacted us since last night.
    They haven't contacted us since last night.
11. The children have been playing video games since early afternoon.
    The kids have been playing video games since early afternoon.
12. We've been dating since April.
    We have been dating since April.
13. India has been independent since 1947.
    India has been independent since 1947.
14. I haven't had anything to eat since lunchtime.
    I haven't eaten anything since lunch time.
15. They have been on vacation since the beginning of the month.
    They have been on vacation since the beginning of the month.
16. I have loved you since the moment I first saw you.
    I have loved you from the moment I first saw you.
17. The couple has been engaged since October.
    The couple has been engaged since October.
18. Sylvia has known the truth since last week.
    Sylvia knows the truth since last week.
19. We've been trying to find a solution since last month.
    We have been trying to find a solution since last month.
20. I haven't been to the movies since last year.
    He hasn't been to the movies since last year.
21. Chris has had a beard since he was younger.
    Chris has had a beard since he was younger.
22. The author has written poetry since childhood.
    The author has written poetry since his childhood.
23. The team has been working on this project since two years ago.
    The team has been working on this project for two years.
24. They've been having problems since the beginning of the week.
    They have been having problems since the beginning of the week.

Follow with:

• dates in english
• the months in english
• conjunctions in english
• «Future perfect» in English
• «Present perfect simple» and «continuous» in English

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