Level: B1

For vs Since — Practice

Both for and since answer “how long?” — but they’re used with different kinds of time expressions. Practice in 35+ ESL examples — especially with the perfect tenses, where they’re most commonly confused.

📝 Prepositions unit · lesson 5 of 11 ⏱ about 9 minutes 🔊 every example has audio

Builds on IN / ON / AT — Time Next in unit Verb Collocations →

For vs since — quick guide

Word	What it answers	Followed by…
for	How long? (a period of time)	a duration: five years, two hours, three days, a long time
since	Starting from when? (a point in time)	a starting point: 2020, Monday, last week, I was a child

I have lived here for five years. (period)
I have lived here since 2020. (starting point)

🎯 Simple test

Look at the time expression after the blank:

Is it a length of time (5 years, 2 hours, a long time)? → use for
Is it a point in time (2020, Monday, my childhood)? → use since

📖 Want the full explanation? See English Prepositions → For vs since on the main grammar page.

How to use this page

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FOR — duration / period of time
I have lived here ______ five years. – for
She has been waiting ______ an hour. – for
They have known each other ______ a long time. – for
He has worked here ______ two months. – for
We have been friends ______ a decade. – for
The shop has been closed ______ three days. – for
I have been studying ______ two hours. – for
She has been ill ______ a week. – for
They have been married ______ 20 years. – for
He has worked there ______ ages. – for
SINCE — starting point in time
I have lived here ______ 2020. – since
She has been waiting ______ 8 a.m. – since
They have known each other ______ childhood. – since
He has worked here ______ March. – since
We have been friends ______ high school. – since
The shop has been closed ______ Monday. – since
I have not seen him ______ Friday. – since
She has been ill ______ yesterday. – since
They have been married ______ 2003. – since
He has worked there ______ last summer. – since
It has been raining ______ noon. – since
I have lived here ______ I was a child. – since
Mixed practice — pick for or since
She has been writing the book ______ six months. – for
She has been writing the book ______ January. – since
I have known him ______ we were children. – since
I have known him ______ over 20 years. – for
They have been traveling ______ three weeks. – for
They have been traveling ______ the beginning of the month. – since
The library has been open ______ 1985. – since
The library has been open ______ almost 40 years. – for
She has been here ______ a few hours. – for
She has been here ______ this morning. – since
I have not eaten ______ breakfast. – since
I have not eaten ______ hours. – for
He has been studying English ______ three years. – for
He has been studying English ______ middle school. – since

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