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3.1.4: Present Perfect with 'For' and 'Since'

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    Present Perfect with 'Since'

    Form

    1. since + beginning of the period

    examples:

    • since 1999
    • since yesterday
    • since 12:30

    We have been in class since 12:40.

    Since 12:40, we have been in class.

    2. since + clause [subject + verb] - verb in simple past

    examples:

    • since I moved here
    • since I was a child
    • since I started class

    Since I was a child, I have wanted to be a nurse.

    I have wanted to be a nurse since I was a child.

    Practice

    Fill in the blanks to complete each sentence yourself. Use the given verbs.

    1. Since I ______________ [meet] met my husband/wife, I ______________________ [be] in love.

    2. I ______________________ [be] in love since I ___________________ [meet] my husband/wife.

    Now, complete the following sentences with your own ideas.

    1. Since I ___________________ an adult, I _________________________________.[become]

    2.Since I ______________________ this class, I ______________________________.[start]

    3. My best friend ______________________________ since I ________________ here.[move]

    4. Ever since I __________________ to California, I ____________________________.[come]

    5. _______________________________ ever since _____________________________.

    Using 'For' and 'Since'

    Grammar-Quizzes › Adverbials › Prepositional Phrases › For vs. Since

    We use for and since to express duration with a quantity of time vs. a starting time

    For vs. Since

    FOR + QUANTITY PHRASE

    For expresses that something (activity, action, state) happened with duration. For is followed by a noun phrase with a quantity of time. A prepositional phrase with for commonly occurs with a verb in the present perfect (and other tenses). The activity may be ending or may extend to the future.

    FOCUS ON QUANTITY OF TIME WITH FOR

    PRESENT PERFECT

    We have come to this beach for five years. (up to now, may end)

    We have enjoyed this paradise for a week.

    We haven't been here for three years. (quantity)

    We haven't been here in¹ years. (period)

    PAST

    We came to this beach for five years. (visits ended)

    We stayed there for five years.
     

    SINCE + STARTING POINT

    Since expresses that something (activity, action, state) happened with duration. Since is followed by a noun phrase (NP) or clause with

    a specific time, a starting time for the activity. Since commonly occurs with a verb in the present perfect or past perfect. The activity

    may be ending or may extend.

    FOCUS ON STARTING TIME WITH SINCE

    PRESENT PERFECT

    We have planned our summers here since June 2012. (NP)

    *We have planned our summers here since five years ago³.

    We haven't checked our messages since last Saturday. (NP)

    We haven't been here since last year. (starting point of period)

    We haven't been here in¹ a year. (period)

    PAST [NOT USED]

    *We came to this beach since June 1.

    PRESENT [NOT USED]

    *We are staying here since Tuesday. (the verb is present but the timing is past)

    FUTURE [NOT USED]

    *We will stay here since two o'clock. (the verb is future but the timing is past)

    ¹for vs. in —For (quantity of time) is similar to in (a period of time); however for can be followed by a more precise time. We drove to New York in four days. (How long did it take? It took us four days to drive to New York.) We drove to New York for four days. (Ambiguous: How long did the drive last? How long will the New York stay last?)

    Pop-Q "Since"

    Tourism at a Beach Resort

    fort-bolivar.1521.jpg

    Stating experiences with for and since.

    Select the response from the list that best completes the sentence.

    1. We've been coming here ( for / since) several years.

    2. More precisely, we have been coming here (for / since) 2002.

    3. Here, tourism has been increasing ( for / since) the end of last year.

    4. More people have been visiting (for / since) the last six months.

    5. We have been swimming and walking on the beach (for / since) early this morning.

    6. We've been enjoying the sun and warm water (for / since) a week now.

    7. We've eaten at several of the restaurants (for / since) we arrived.

    8. We've walked all over the island and enjoyed everything here (for / since) these past several days.

    9. We haven't had such a good vacation (for / since) several years.

    10. We have been talking about our trip ever (for / since) we got back.

    Practice 2:

    Choose the correct option (for or since) to complete each sentence.

    1. She has worked at the company ________ five years.

      a) for
      b) since

    2. They have known each other ________ they were children.

      a) for
      b) since

    3. He has lived in this city ________ 2010.

      a) for
      b) since

    4. We have been friends ________ a long time.

      a) for
      b) since

    5. She has not studied math________ she started college.

      a) for
      b) since

    6. We have been best friends ________ we met in college.

      a) for
      b) since

    7. We have lived in our new house ________ six months.

      a) for
      b) since

    8. He has played the guitar ________ he was a teenager.

    a) for
    b) since

    Practice 3

    Daniel's Whereabouts

    Read for Errors

    We haven't seen Daniel for many, many years. He was a child when we last saw him. In fact, we haven't seen him since five years ago. His family moved to Arizona for while his father was working there. They have been there since the time when his father started the new job. We're really glad to see him again, and we hope he'll stay for a while.

    Correct or Incorrect?

    Select a response correct or incorrect.

    Top of Form

    1. We haven't see Daniel for many, many years. He was a child when we last saw him.
        Correct      Incorrect

    2. In fact, we haven't seen him since five years ago.
        Correct      Incorrect

    3. His family moved to Arizona for while his father was working there.
        Correct      Incorrect

    4. They have been there since the time when his father started the new job.
        Correct      Incorrect

    5. We're really glad to see him again, and we hope he'll stay for a while.
        Correct      Incorrect

    Practice 4

    Leaving Home

    Expressions with for and since.

    Select the response from the list that best completes the sentence. Top of Form

    1. I have lived in a big city since (a little / I was little).

    2. I have wanted to get out of the dirty, noisy city for ( a long time / a long time ago).

    3. I have worked here as a chef ( two years / two years ago / the summer of 2008).

    4. I arrived here with only my suitcase and found a restaurant where I could work for (a couple of summers / summertime).

    5. I have lived here (for a few months / since the past few months).

    Using 'for' and 'since and practice exercise: Grammar-Quizzes › Adverbials › Prepositional Phrases › For vs. Since

    Julie Sevastopoulos (contact) — ESL / ELL / TEFL — English Grammar Reference / Resource – Practices & Exercises – Palo Alto, California USA — 10 Nov 2022

    Creative Commons License Grammar Quizzes by Julie Sevastopoulos is licensed for use under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 International. Edited for B1 language level

    This page titled 3.1.4: Present Perfect with 'For' and 'Since' is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Allyson Marceau.