4-5 USING SINCE AND FOR

SINCE
Since eight o’clock.
Since Tuesday.
Since May.
(a) I have been here Since 1999.
Since January 3, 2001.
Since yesterday.
Since last month.
Since is followed by the mention of a
specific point in time: an hour, a day, a
month, a year, etc.
Since expresses the idea that something
began at a specific time in the past and
continues to the present.

(b) CORRECT: I have lived here since May. The present perfect is used in sentences
CORRECT: I have been here since May. with since.
(c) INCORRECT: I am living here since May. In (c): The present progressive is NOT
(d) INCORRECT: I live here since May. used.
(e) INCORRECT: I lived here since May. In (d): The simple present is NOT used.
INCORRECT: I was here since May. In (e): The simple past is NOT used.
MAIN CLAUSE SINCE-CLAUSE Since may also introduce a time clause
(present perfect) (simple past) (i.e., a subject and verd may follow since).
Notice in the examples: The present
(f) I have lived here since I was a child. perfect is used in the main clause; the
(g) Al was met many people since he came here. simple past is used in the since-clause.
FOR For is followed by the mention of a length
for ten minutes. of time: two minutes, three hours, four
for two hours. days, five weeks, etc.
for five days. Note: If the noun ends in –s (hours, days,
(h) I have been here for about three weeks. weeks, etc.), use for in the time
for almost six months. expression, not since.
for many years.
for a long time.
(i) I have lived here for two years. I moved here In (i): The use of the present perfect in a
two years ago, and I still live here. sentence with for + a length of time means
that the action began in the past and
(j) I lived in Athens for two years. I don’t live in continues to the present.
Athens now. In (j): The use of the simple past means
that the action began and ended in the past.
*Also CORRECT: I have been living here since May. See Chart 4-7, p. 100, for a discussion of the
present perfect progressive.
EXERCISE 19. SINCE vs. FOR. (Chart 4-5)
Directions: Complete the sentences.
since nine o’clock this morning.
1. I’ve been in this building . . . . . . . . . . . . .
for 27 minutes.

since
2. We’ve been in class . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
for

since
3. I’ve been in this city . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
for
 since
4. I’ve had a driver’s license . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
for

since
5. I’ve had this book . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
for
EXERCISE 20. SINCE vs. FOR. (Chart 4-5)
Directions: Answer the leader’s questions. Only the leader’s book is open. Work as a class or in
groups.
Speaker A: Use since in your answer.
Speaker B: Use for.
Example:
LEADER (book open): How long have you had this book?
SPEAKER A (book closed): I’ve had this book since (the beginning of the term).
LEADER TO B (book open): How long has (Speaker A) had this book?
SPEAKER B (book closed): S/He has had this book for (five weeks).
1. How long have you been in (this country/city)?
2. How long have you been at (this school)?
3. How long have you been up today?
4. How long have you known (. . .)?
5. Where do you live? How long have you lived there?
6. How long have you had your wristwatch?
7. Who has a car/bicycle? How long have you had it?
8. How long have you been in this room today?
9. Who is wearing new clothes? What is new? How long have you had it/them?
10. Who is married? How long have you been married?
EXERCISE 21. Sentence with SINCE-clauses. (Chart 4-5)
Directions: Complete the sentences with the words in parentheses. Put brackets around the since-
clauses.
1. I (know) have known Mark Miller [ever since* we (be) were
in college.]
2. Pedro (change) his major three times since he (start)
school.
3. Ever since. I (be) a child, I (be)
afraid of snakes.
4. I can’t wait to get home to my own bed. I (sleep, not)
well since I (leave) home three days ago.

*Ever since has the same meaning as since.