For / Since
For / Since We use “for” to say how long an
action has continued.We have been here for a week.
We use “since” to say when an action began.
We have been here since Friday.
The plumber has been here ___ two o’clock.
The plumber has been here since
two o’clock.
We’ve tried to help them ____ a
long time.
We’ve tried to help them for a
long time.
Tom has had his car ____ three
years.
Tom has had his car for three
years.
I haven’t slept ____ I heard about
the oil spill.
I haven’t slept since I heard about the oil
spill.
Have you been to Italy ____ last
year?
Have you been to Italy since last
year?
They have been here ____ an hour.
They have been here for an hour.
She has lived here ____ 1998.
She has lived here since 1998.
____ early this morning, we’ve
picked up hundreds of
broken bottles.
Since early this morning, we’ve
picked up hundreds of
broken bottles.
We’ve been near the lake ____ six
hours now.
We’ve been near the lake for six
hours now.
Real fur coats haven’t been
fashionable ____ years.
Real fur coats haven’t been
fashionable for years.
Fish haven’t lived there ____
the oil spill.
Fish haven’t lived there since
the oil spill.
I haven’t eaten anything ____
hours.
I haven’t eaten anything for
hours.
He hasn’t played football ____ he
hurt his foot last week.
He hasn’t played football since he hurt his foot last
week.
We haven’t spoken ____
Monday.
We haven’t spoken since
Monday.
They haven’t known each
other ____ a long time.
They haven’t known each
other for a long time.
Tom has been at our school ____ three years.
Tom has been at our school for three years.
Kevin has worked with animals ____
2002.
Kevin has worked with animals since 2002.
I haven’t written any e-mails ____
Tuesday.
I haven’t written any e-mails since
Tuesday.
We haven’t seen Sally ____ months.
We haven’t seen Sally for months.
I haven’t seen any good films
____ the summer.
I haven’t seen any good films
since the summer.
Have you eaten ice creams ____ you began your
diet?
Have you eaten ice creams since you began your
diet?
Has Frank spoken to Julie ____ Sunday?
Has Frank spoken to Julie since Sunday?
Marga Renedo Gómez