Being able to use time expressions correctly in English is key to expressing yourself more clearly. So, what is the difference between “since” and “for”? “Since” refers to a specific time when an event begins, while “for” indicates the duration of that event. For example, when we say “since 2020”, we emphasize the starting point, while with the expression “for three years” we express the length of this period.

In this article, we will examine the uses of since and for in detail, and we will reinforce the subject by practicing with various example sentences. It will now be easier to make sentences indicating time in English! If you are ready, let’s get started!

Since Usage – For Usage

Using time expressions correctly in English ensures a clear understanding of the events you want to describe. At this point, the terms “since” and “for” are frequently used to express a specific period of time.

“Since” indicates a specific starting point, while “for” expresses the duration of that time period. For example, the expression “since 2019” refers to a starting date, while “for three years” refers to a specific period of time.

In this article, we will discuss the usage of since and for in detail and show you how to use these expressions correctly with different sentence structures. By reinforcing with examples, it will now be easier to explain actions that continue from the past to the present in English. Are you ready to use time expressions correctly? Let's get started!

What is the Difference Between Since and For in English?

In English, “since” and “for” are two basic expressions used to express a specific period of time. However, the situations in which they are used are different:

1.Since:

● It is used to indicate a specific time when an event started.

● It means “-den beri” and is used with a specific date, day, month, year or time.

Examples:

● I have lived here since 2020. (I have been living here since 2020.)

● She has been studying since this morning. (They have been studying since this morning.)

● They have known each other since last summer. (They have known each other since last summer.)

2.For:

● It is used to indicate the duration of an event.

● It means “-dır, -dür” and is used with a certain time interval.

Examples:

● I have lived here for five years. (I have been living here for five years.)

● She has been studying for three hours. (She has been studying for three hours.)

● They have known each other for a long time. (They have known each other for a long time.)

How is Since used in English?

“Since” is used in English to indicate the starting point of an event. It is used for situations that started in the past and are still continuing, and is usually used with Present Perfect (Have/Has + V3) and Present Perfect Continuous (Have/Has been + Ving) tenses.

1. Use with a Date or Time Expression

● Since 2020

○ I have lived here since 2020.

● Since Monday

○ She has been working since Monday.

● Since last month

○ They have been studying since last month.

2. Use with a Specific Event or Situation

Since can also be used to indicate the beginning of an event. In this case, “since” can be followed by a sentence:

● Since I graduated

○ I have been working at this company since I graduated.

● Since we moved here

○ They have been happy since they moved here. (They have been happy since they moved here.)

3. Since + Time Expression vs. Since + Sentence

● I have been studying English since last year.

● I have been studying English since I was a child.

How to Use For in English?

“For” is used to indicate the duration of an event or situation. It is usually used for situations that started in the past and are still continuing, and is used with the Present Perfect (Have/Has + V3) and Present Perfect Continuous (Have/Has been + Ving) tenses.

1. Use with Duration

“For” is followed by a period of time. This period of time can be days, months, years, hours, or a specific period of time.

● For two hours – Two hours

○ I have been studying for two hours. (I have been studying for two hours.)

● For three days – For three days

○ They have been waiting for three days.

● For a long time – For a long time

○ She has lived here for a long time.

● For six months – For six months

○ We have been friends for six months.

2. Usage for Situations Continuing from the Past to the Present

For is used to express situations that started in the past and are still continuing. In this usage, it is usually used with Present Perfect and Present Perfect.