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Free Interactive Grammar

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Interactive Grammar: Since vs For quiz

Use since with a specific point in time (since 2020) and for with a duration (for three years) to express how long something has been happening in English.

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Lesson progressNot started
Duration
~52 min
Questions
35
Level
Elementary

Overview

'Since' is used with a specific point in time to show when something started (since 2010, since Monday). 'For' is used with a duration to show how long something has lasted (for two years, for ages). Both are most commonly used with the present perfect tense.

Since — Point in Time

  • Since + a specific point when something started.
  • YearI have lived here since 2015.
  • TimeShe has been waiting since 3 o'clock.
  • EventHe hasn't eaten since breakfast.
  • ClauseI've known her since I was a child.

For — Duration

  • For + a period of time (how long).
  • HoursI have lived here for nine years.
  • DaysShe has been waiting for two hours.
  • LongHe hasn't eaten for a long time.
  • AgesWe haven't spoken for ages.

Quick Test

  • Ask: From when? → use since.
  • Ask: How long? → use for.
  • ✓I've waited since noon / for three hours.
  • ✗I've waited since three hours / for noon.

When to use

Present perfect

I have studied English for five years.

Duration

She has worked here since January.

Formal writing

We have not received payment since the invoice date.

Conversation

I haven't seen him for ages!

Since vs For — Multiple Choice

Choose since or for to complete each sentence correctly.

Multiple Choice10 questionsA2 — Elementary~15 min
1I have lived here 2015.
2She has been studying three hours.
3He hasn't eaten breakfast.
4They have been married twenty years.
5I haven't seen her last summer.
6We have been waiting two hours.
7She has worked at this company she graduated.
8He has been learning Arabic a long time.
9I haven't spoken to him our argument last month.
10They have been friends ages.
Progress0 of 10 answered

Since vs For — Fill in the Blanks

Complete each sentence with since or for.

Fill in the Blanks15 questionsA2 — Elementary~23 min
1I have studied Englishdurationfive years.
2She has lived in ParispointJanuary.
3He hasn't called mepointlast Tuesday.
4We have known each otherdurationten years.
5They have been waitingpoint9 o'clock.
6The shop has been closeddurationtwo weeks.
7I haven't eatenpointthis morning.
8She has been a teacherdurationover fifteen years.
9He has worked herepointhe was twenty-two.
10The museum has been opendurationseveral months.
11I've been busypointearly this morning.
12She hasn't sleptdurationmore than twenty hours.
13We haven't seen thempointthe party last month.
14He has played chessdurationhe was a child.
15The team has been trainingdurationsix months.
Progress0 of 15 answered

Since vs For — Error Correction

Correct the wrong use of since or for in each sentence.

Error Fix10 questionsA2 — Elementary~15 min

1I have lived here since five years.

2She has studied English for 2019.

3He hasn't eaten since three hours.

4They have been married since twenty years.

5I haven't seen her for last summer.

6We have been waiting since two hours.

7She has worked here for she was 22.

8He hasn't called me for last Tuesday.

9I have been busy since a long time.

10They have been friends since ages.

Progress0 of 10 answered

Since vs. For

Both mark duration with the present perfect — the difference is what kind of time they refer to.

FeatureSinceFor
MarksA specific starting point in timeA length of time (a duration)
Typical companionssince 2010, since Monday, since I arrivedfor two years, for a while, for ages
Can answer"Since when?""For how long?"

Frequently Asked Questions

When do I use 'since'?

'Since' is used with a specific point in time: a year (since 2010), a date (since March), a time (since 8 o'clock), or an event (since I was a child). It answers 'From when?'

When do I use 'for'?

'For' is used with a period or duration of time: for two hours, for three days, for a long time, for ages, for years. It answers 'How long?'

Which tenses are used with 'since' and 'for'?

Both are most commonly used with the present perfect: 'I have known her since 2010 / for five years.' They can also appear with the past perfect: 'I had lived there for ten years before I moved.'

Your Grammar Learning Path

Follow the CEFR progression for this topic cluster.

  1. A2
    Interactive Grammar: Prepositions of Place quiz
  2. A2
    Interactive Grammar: Prepositions of Time quiz
  3. A2
    Interactive Grammar: Since vs For quizYou are here
  4. B1
    Interactive Grammar: Complex Prepositions quiz
  5. B1
    Interactive Grammar: During vs While quiz
  6. B1
    Interactive Grammar: Like vs As quiz
  7. B1
    Interactive Grammar: Prepositions After Adjectives quiz

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