During or for?

de English Grammar Today

We use during to say when something happens, if it happens in or over a period of

time. We use for to talk about the length of time something lasts.

Compare

They went to Florida duringthe

They went at one point in the winter.
winter.

They went to Florida for the They went from the beginning to the

winter. end of the winter.

She phoned me during the week to tell me that she was getting married.(referring to a

point in the week)

We were in the cinema for three and a half hours.

Not: … during three and a half hours.

Our flight to New York was delayed for seven hours.

Not: … during seven hours.

We went to Italy for a week.

Not: … during a week.

We can also use for to refer to public holidays and seasons:

He always goes to his mother’s house for New Year.

Not: … during New Year.

'for' to express length of time

We use for as a preposition when we are talking about a

period of time:

 For a few years my brother worked on the plant.

 My brother worked at the factory for a few years.

We don't know exactly when it was and I don't know how old
your brother is but it might have been in the 90s, the 80s or
the 70s or even earlier and it lasted for two or three years.

For can be used to describe a period of time in the past,

present or future:

 The English course that I'm attending lasts for three

months.
 Then I shall be on holiday in Dublin for five days.
Last year I went to Australia and stayed for six weeks.

However, if you use for with the present perfect or present

perfect continuous tense, it indicates a period of time which
started in the past and continues up to the present time:

 My sister has worked as a vet for fifteen years now -

since 1987.
 Those oak trees have been standing in Greenwich
Parkfor centuries - since the 18th Century, I think.

Note that since is used to indicate the starting point of the

action and for measures the period of time up to the present.

during to express length of time

We also use during as a preposition when we are talking about

a period of time, but the meaning is different. During means (at
some point) in the course of. Compare the following:

 I saw not one duck on the lake during the whole of

lastsummer.
 I don't know when exactly but he must have left during
the night.
 I expect he'll phone me at some stage during next
week.
 It must have rained here during the last fortnight as
the ground is quite soft and damp.
Remember the difference by thinking that during tells us when
something happens, for tells us how long it lasts.

 During those years (when / that) my brother was

working in the factory, I was studying at university.

Note that we can replace during…when or during…that with

the conjunction while:

 My brother was working on a farm while I was studying

for my masters degree.
 While my brother was at home working on the farm, I
was away at university.