for / since

We often use for and since when talking about time. for + period A period is a duration of time, for example: 5 minutes, 2 weeks, 6 years. For means "from thebeginning of the period until the end of the period." since + point A point is a precise moment in time, for example: 9 o'clock, 1st January, Monday. Since means "from a point in the past until now." for since

a (from start to end)

period

a (up to now)

point

>===<
for 20 minutes for three days for 6 months for 4 years for 2 centuries for a long time for ever etc

x===>|
since 9am since Monday since January since 1997 since 1500 since I left school since the beginning of time etc

Exercise. Decide if you need for or since with these time expressions.

last weekend ten seconds Christmas Eve a decade I finished school a couple of days my birthday a long time

ten centuries the 70s I was a boy August the last month fifteen years the accident then

we bought this house last month

a millennium I met you

- You use FOR if you don't have to calculate the period of time, because you have it in the sentence : I have lived here FOR two months ( you don't have to calculate, you know the period is "two months" ) - You use SINCE if you have to calculate the period of time, because you only have the starting point : I have lived here SINCE 1975 ( you have to calculate now: if you came in 1975 - the starting point - and now it is 2009, then 2009-1975 = 24 years ) Complete for or since 5. My mother has been travelling since last April 6. The oil price has been going up for three months 7. Alice has been in her bedroom for two hours 8. We have been married since 1992 9. The socialist party has been in power for 6 months 10. What weather! It has been snowing for two days 11. It is unbelievable. They have been arguing since 6 o'clock 12. The oil price has been going up since last March 13. My French teacher has been ill for one week 14. I have been studying mathematics since 4 o'clock

15. This terrorist has been in prison since 2001 16. My boyfriend has been sleeping since 7 o'clock yesterday evening 17. My mother has been travelling for 4 months 18. Alice has been in her bedroom since 6 o'clock 19. George has worked in this company since 1997 20. My boyfriend has been sleeping for 15 hours 21. We have been married for 12 years I have been studying mathematics for three hours 2. George has worked in this company for 8 years 3. The socialist party has been in power since March 2004 4. This terrorist has been in prison for three years