Grammar

Present Perfect with For and Since

Use the present perfect with 'for' and 'since' to talk about situations that started in the past and continue now. 'For' gives a length of time; 'since' gives a starting point.

Post

Level B1 Tenses

Summary

Use the present perfect with 'for' and 'since' to talk about situations that started in the past and continue now. 'For' gives a length of time; 'since' gives a starting point.

Structure

subject + have/has + past participle + for/since + time

Examples

I have lived here for ten years.
She has worked at the bank since 2018.
We have known each other for a long time.
They haven't seen him since Monday.

Common mistakes

• Using the past simple, e.g. 'I lived here for ten years' when you still live here.
• Mixing up 'for' and 'since', e.g. 'since two hours' instead of 'for two hours'.

Related

Present Perfect vs Past Simple

More tenses

Present Simple A1

Use the present simple for facts, habits, routines, and things that are generally true. Add -s/-es to the verb with he, she, and it.

Present Continuous A1

Use the present continuous for actions happening now, around the present time, or for temporary situations. It is also used for fixed future arrangements.

Use the past simple for completed actions at a definite time in the past. Regular verbs add -ed; many common verbs are irregular.

Future with 'Going To' A2

Use 'going to' for plans and intentions decided before now, and for predictions based on present evidence.

Future with 'Will' A2

Use 'will' for predictions, instant decisions made at the moment of speaking, promises, and offers.

Past Continuous B1

Use the past continuous for an action in progress at a moment in the past, often interrupted by a shorter past simple action, or for two parallel ongoing actions.

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