For can be used with all tenses. Here are a few examples:

They study for two hours every day. They are studying for three hours today. He has lived in Bangkok for a long time. He has been living in Paris for three

months. I worked at that bank for five years. Will the universe continue for ever?

For is NOT used with "all day", "all the time" etc.

I was there all day. (not *for all day)

Since is normally used with perfect tenses:

He has been here since 9am. He has been working since he arrived. I had lived in New York since my

childhood.

Since can also be used in the structure "It is [period] since...":

It is a year since I saw her. How long is it since you got married?

For & Since for Time

We often use for and since when talking about time.for + periodA period is a duration of time, for example: 5 minutes, 2 weeks, 6 years. For means "from the beginning of the period until the end of the period." For can be used with all tenses.since + pointA point is a precise moment in time, for example: 9 o'clock, 1st January, Monday. Since means "from a point in the past until now." Since is normally used with perfect tenses.

fora period(from start to end)>===<

sincea point(up to now)·===>|

for 20 minutesfor three daysfor 6 monthsfor 4 yearsfor 2 centuriesfor a long timefor everetc

since 9amsince Mondaysince Januarysince 1997since 1500since I left schoolsince the beginning of timeetc

all tenses perfect tenses only

Both for and since also have differentmeanings, with no reference to time.

Here are some examples:

This is for you. Is this the train for London? Since you ask, I'll say yes. Since he didn't study he didn't pass the exam.

For & Since with Present Perfect Tense

We often use for and since with the present perfect tense.We use for to talk about a period of time—5 minutes, 2 weeks, 6 years. We use since to talk about a point in past time—9 o'clock, 1st January, Monday.

for since

a period of timea point in past time

20 minutes 6.15pm

three days Monday

6 months January

4 years 1994

2 centuries 1800

a long time I left school

ever the beginning of time

etc etc

For or Since?

1 My grandparents walk___________twenty minutes a day.

2 How long is it____________you wrote to your pen pal?

3 We have been dating______________a long time.

4 That lady has been waiting for the bus___________noon.

5 I studied for this test___________three days straight.

6 My family has lived here_______________last March.

7 She has worked there____________she finished college.

8 I have been calling you________________half an hour.

9 Lisa and Jill have been at the library________________a long time.

10 My teacher has been sick____________________last Monday.

Present Perfect Tense – FOR or SINCE?

1. Ken has been studying karate ___ five years.2. I've had a headache ___ this morning.3. He has played tennis ___ a long time.4. He's been a policeman ___ he graduated from university.5. Mr. Williams has been working at that company ___ less than a week.6. Fred has been in the supermarket ___ less than an hour.7. I played tennis ___ two hours.8. Roy has been playing the violin ___ he was ten years old.9. I've been working here ___ almost a year.10. I have been living here ___ I was born.11. It has been raining ___ yesterday afternoon.

For can be used with all tenses. Since is usually used with perfect tenses only.

12. I haven't slept well ___ last Monday.13. Samuel worked in the garden ___ three hours.14. She's been studying English ___ over six years.15. I haven't played baseball ___ I was a junior high school student.16. They've been in that meeting ___ 8:00.17. They have been cleaning their house ___ several hours.18. I have had this hat ___ quite a few years.

"For" or "Since"

1. How long have you lived in the United States? (one year) _____________________________________________________________________2. How long has Mary been a nurse? (April) _____________________________________________________________________3. How long has Karen known Tom? (1979) _____________________________________________________________________4. How long have they studied English? (a few months) _____________________________________________________________________5. How long has Karen played tennis? (a long time) _____________________________________________________________________6. How long have you been studying? (6 years old)_____________________________________________________________________7. How long has he worn glasses? (1975) _____________________________________________________________________8. How long has Emily played the piano? (high school) _____________________________________________________________________9. How long will you be on vacation? (three weeks)_____________________________________________________________________ 10. How long have you driven a car? (my birthday) _____________________________________________________________________11. How long has Ron had his new computer? (last month) _____________________________________________________________________12. How long has she owned the book shop? (ten years) _____________________________________________________________________13. How long has Gary played football? (several years)_____________________________________________________________________ 14. How long have your friends been in town? (Monday) _____________________________________________________________________15. How long has Mrs. Smith lived on Clark Street? (many years) _____________________________________________________________________16. How long has the post office been closed. (five o’clock) _____________________________________________________________________