Beach near Morro de São Paulo, Brazil
For / Since
Indicating a quantity of time vs. a specific time
For vs. Since
| FOR | SINCE |
|---|---|
For is used before a quantity of time, and it is commonly used with the present perfect and past perfect tenses. |
Since is used before a specific time or date, and it is commonly used with the present perfect and past perfect tenses. |
We have been coming to this beach for fifteen years. |
We have been coming to this beach since July, 1995. (exact time, date, year) |
We have been enjoying this paradise for a week. |
We have been enjoying this paradise since last Saturday. |
We have been swimming for three hours. |
We have been swimming since six o'clock this morning. |
Expressions for Quantity of Time & Specific Time
| A QUANTITY | A SPECIFIC TIME | ||
|---|---|---|---|
A quantity of time includes a unit of time: a minute, hour, week, month, etc. It may also include a modifier such as now or so far, long, short, a few,many, several, these past few, these past several |
A specific time is stated as an hour, date, year, century or era. It may also include a modifier such as last, the beginning of, the end of, the middle of |
||
fifteen minutes |
a quarter of an hour |
7:45 a.m. (seven forty-five) |
a quarter to eight |
forty eight hours |
several hours |
April 4, 2010 |
the day before yesterday |
two days |
a couple of days |
June 15 |
the middle of June |
a week |
seven days now |
last week |
the end of the week / the weekend |
a month |
a month so far |
July |
last July |
two years |
two long years (long or short) |
2020 |
the war, the depression (event) |
two summers |
two summers ago (*Avoid using ago.) |
spring, summer, fall, winter |
a week ago *See note. |
two centuries |
these past few years (last few) |
the beginning of the 21st century |
he called (Since can introduce a clause.) |
*Ago (adj) is more commonly used with the past tense. "We went there a year ago."
FOR – Additional Meanings
| VARIANT MEANING | EXAMPLES |
|---|---|
HELP SOMEONE(prep.) |
I called a taxi for them. Open the door for him. What else can I do for you? |
PURPOSE (prep.) |
I run for exercise. |
INTENDED USE (prep.) |
This towel is for dishes. This knife is for cutting bread.. |
IN REGARDS TO (prep.) |
Smoking is bad for one's health. |
IN FAVOR OF (prep.) |
I'm for shortening the school year. (in favor of reducing the number of days of attendance) |
IN EXCHANGE FOR (prep.) |
She works in their home for room and board. (as payment for a room and food) |
IN PLACE OF (prep.) |
Margarine is a substitute for butter. |
SUCCESS RATIO (prep.) |
The batter was two for four. (used to indicate the number of successes out of a specified number of attempts) |
BECAUSE, SEEING (conj) |
He left, for he had no reason to stay. (coordinating conjunction; uncommonly used) |
IN THE DIRECTION OF (prep.) |
He got on his horse and headed for the border. (occasionally used as an preposition of place or direction) |
FOREVER (expression) |
He left, for good. |
SINCE – Additional Meanings
| VARIANT MEANING | EXAMPLES |
|---|---|
BECAUSE, IN AS MUCH AS (conj) |
Since you are here early, you might as well help. (reason; often used at the beginning of a sentence) |
AFTER THAT TIME UNTIL NOW (conj.) |
He hasn't called since he left. (subordinating conjunction) |
FROM THAT TIME UNTIL NOW (conj.) |
He has been talking on the phone since he got home. |
FROM THAT TIME UNTIL NOW (expression) |
We met two years ago and have been roommates ever since. |
SUBSEQUENTLY; AFTER (adv) |
At first she didn't want her daughter to marry him, but has since agreed to it. (an unspecific time between past and present) |
A LONG TIME AGO (adv. – expression) |
I have long since agreed to his independence |
Common Mistakes
| PROBLEM | FIX |
|---|---|
We've been swimming there since ten years ago. awkward wording
|
We have been swimming there for ten years. Simplify by using for before a quantity of time and delete ago. We have been swimming there since 1998. Simplify by using since before a specific time and delete ago. A phrase with [quantity of time + ago] qualifies as a specific time in the past; however, it is not in common usage by native speakers because it is wordy.
|
I have been working as an assistant for the summertime. |
I have been working as an assistant this summer. (unspecific period within the season) |
Practice 1 
For / Since – Stating Experience
- Select the word from each menu that best completes the sentence.
- Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button to the right.
Practice 2
Expressions After For & Since
- Select the word from each menu that best completes the sentence.
- Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button to the right.