When do I use “for” and when do I use “since” in English?

The English language, while generally quite flexible, has some rather fixed uses of “for” and “since”
when used to talk about something in the past as it continues to the present. While I haven’t found an
exact rule that fits every possible use, the following examples may help you to formulate sentences and
questions using these two tricky words. The rules follow after the examples.

for now I’m keeping the dog for now.

for the time being I am happy with the car for the time being.
for a while I have been doing portraits for a while.
for a long time She has been waiting for a long time.
for a short time He has only been here for a short time.
for years She has been dancing for years.
for many years He’s been taking his wife out each weekend for many years.
for two years, for three years, etc. We have been in our new home for two years now.
for several years/months/weeks/days We have gone sailing on most sunny Sundays for years.
for some time (a long time) We have known them for some time.

The phrases which use “for” as well as the phrases which use “since” may be placed at the beginning
or the end of the sentence. For example, ‘For years, we have gone sailing on most sunny Sundays.’
And ‘I have hated onions since I was a child.’

1. Since I was a child I have hated onions.

2. Since we got back from our trip overseas, I have dreamed about it every night.
3. Ever since I met her, I have wanted to ask her about her background.
4. Since we decided to stay in the city last weekend, we didn’t get to enjoy the fresh air you find in the
mountains.
5. Since we went to the beach last week, we avoided the demonstrations in the pedestrian zone
downtown.
6. Since we went to the ballet two weeks ago, I’ve been thinking about how I could get back in shape.
7. Since I’ve made up my mind, the answer is still no.
8. Since I was ten years old my family has been going on an annual ski trip together.

Most of the time, “since” could also be stated as “ever since” because it refers to continuous or a
repeated action or state, but not for examples 4, 5 and 7, because they are about a one-time event.
Sometimes “since” refers to something that is continuous, but sometimes it is nearly a synonym for
“because,” as in 4, 5 and 7.

Use “for” for unspecified long and short periods of time, but also with specific numbers of years,
months, weeks, days when the event or action continues up to the present time.

Use “since” when you refer to a continuous action, state or belief that began at a specific time or
event, or use “since” when it is a condition that the sentence relies on, like “because.” “Since A, B
exists.”

“Since” does NOT go with specific numbers of years, months, weeks or days but you COULD use it
with “last” as in last year, last month, last week or yesterday when the action or state continues to
the present.