Uses of “For” and “Since”
The usage of ‘for’ and ‘since’ is related to time and tense-structured sentences, such as the present perfect continuous tense, past perfect continuous tense, and the future continuous tense.
Where to use “For” in sentences?
For is used to indicate the duration of any activity, or we can say, a period of time. For is used not only with the present perfect tense and present perfect continuous tense but also with the simple present tense, simple past and simple future tense.
Usage of “for” in:
| minutes – | for fifteen minutes, for several/many minutes, for minutes, for the last/past two minutes |
| hours – | for two hours, for several/many hours, for hours, for the last/past three hours |
| days – | for three days, for days, for the last/past five days |
| months – | for seven months, for months, for the last/past six months |
| weeks – | for three weeks, for weeks, for the last/past four weeks |
| years – | for five years, for years, for the last/past two years |
| decades – | for two decades, for decades, for the last/past three decades |
| centuries– | for four centuries, for centuries, for the last/past four centuries |
| seasons – | for three seasons, for two seasons |
Examples of “For” in Sentences
- Her interview has been going on in the seminar hall for three hours. (Present Perfect Continuous Tense)
- My youngest sister will be there for two weeks. (Simple Future Tense)
- She harnessed her weaving skill for several years. (Simple Past Tense)
- I had been working in this firm for two decades. (Past Perfect Continuous Tense)
Where to use “Since” in sentences?
Since is used to mention the specific point of time when an activity started, but continues till now. It is explicitly paired with the perfect tense and the perfect continuous tense only.
Uses of “Since” in:
| days’ name – since Sunday, since last Tuesday |
| months’ name – since January, since last March, since last month |
| years’ name – since 1701, since last year |
| parts of day – since dawn, since dusk, since dawn, since twilight, since morning, since noon, since afternoon, since night, since evening, since midnight, since night, since sunrise, since sunset, since yesterday, since last morning |
| seasons’ name – since summer, since spring, since last autumn |
| festivals’ name – since Holi |
| exact time – since 4 O’clock, since 10 p.m. |
| events’ name – since his birth, since his resignation |
Examples of “Since” in sentences
- I have been editing this audio file since 2 a.m. (Present Perfect Continuous Tense)
- The software had not been working due to several upgrades that had been ongoing in the backend since last Monday. (Past Perfect Continuous Tense)
- He had been painting this sketch since evening. (Past Perfect Continuous Tense)
- She has been discovering a cure of this disease since 2005. (Present Perfect Continuous Tense)
What is the difference between For and Since?
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