Understanding the correct use of “since” and “for” can instantly make your English sound more natural and accurate.
These two small words may seem simple, but they carry a lot of meaning when it comes to expressing time.
From telling someone when something began to how long it lasted.
This article will show you the difference between “since” and “for” which will help you avoid common mistakes in phrasing time.
Difference Between “Since” and “For”
In English, “since” and “for” are both used to talk about time, but they work in different ways.
Since is used when referring to the exact time when something started (e.g., a specific date, day, or time).
For, on the other hand, is used when talking about the duration or how long something has been happening.
Think of it like this: since = starting point, for = length of time.
Example in daily conversation:
- With “since”: "I have lived in London since 2015." (focus: the starting year)
- With “for”: "I have lived in London for eight years." (focus: the duration)
When Should You Use “Since”?
You should use since when you want to specify when an action began with a specific date, typically with perfect tenses like present perfect or past perfect.
Examples:
- I’ve known Sarah since April 10th.
- They’ve been married since 2012.
- I haven’t seen you since Christmas Day.
- We’ve been friends since high school.
- The store has been closed since last Friday.
It also works best with exact times (e.g., since Monday, since 7 a.m., since last summer).
- I’ve been waiting since 8 o’clock.
- She’s been working here since 9 a.m.
- I haven’t eaten since noon.
- They’ve been studying since sunrise.
- We’ve been playing since 4 p.m.
When Should You Use “For”?
You should use for when you want to describe the duration of an action (how long it has lasted) without focusing on when it started.
It can be used with any tense, but it’s common with perfect tenses.
Here is the examples if you use long duration in your sentences:
- I’ve lived in Paris for 10 years.
- We’ve been waiting for two hours.
- She’s been studying for months.
- He worked at the company for 25 years.
- They’ve been traveling for three weeks.
And here is an example if you use short duration:
- I’ve been here for a few minutes.
- She was silent for a moment.
- He’s been away for a day.
- We talked for half an hour.
- They’ve been gone for two days.
Conclusion
The use of since and for may look like a tiny detail in English grammar, but getting them right makes a big difference in how precise your communication is.
By remembering that “since” points to a starting moment and “for” focuses on duration, you’ll have a powerful tool for telling your story accurately.
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