Difference between For and Since examples

Difference between For and Since | For vs Since

"For" and "since" are used in English to talk about time, but they are used in different ways:

For is used to describe a duration of time. It means from the start of a period to the end of a period.

• Examples:
  • I have lived here for ten years. (It means from ten years ago until now.)
  • She has been on the phone for half an hour. (She started the call half an hour ago and is still on the phone.)

Since is used to point to a specific point in time when something began. It means from that point to the present.

• Examples:
  • I have lived here since 2010. (I started living here in 2010 and I still live here.)
  • She has been on the phone since 9 a.m. (She started the call at 9 a.m. and is still on the phone.)

So, use "for" with a period of time (like minutes, days, months, years) and use "since" with a specific point in time (like 9 a.m., Monday, January 2010).

Below are twelve examples, demonstrating how to use "for" and "since" in simple sentences:

How to use "For" in a sentence:

1. I've lived in this city for five years.
2. She has been studying Spanish for several months now.
3. We've been waiting for over an hour.
4. He has worked at that company for a decade.
5. They've had that car for quite a while.
6. I've been on hold for 20 minutes.
7. We've been on vacation for three days.
8. She's been working on the project for 6 months.
9. They've been married for 4 years.
10. This building has stood for 2 centuries.
11. I've known him for a long time.
12. People have been using this path forever.

How to use "Since"in a sentence:

1. I've known my best friend since childhood.
2. She has been a vegetarian since 2012.
3. We've been members of the gym since January.
4. He's been interested in science since he was a little boy.
5. They've lived in their current home since last summer.
6. The meeting has been going on since 9 am.
7. He has been feeling unwell since Monday.
8. They've been living here since January.
9. I've been a teacher since 1997.
10. That law has been in effect since 1500.
11. I've been busy since I left school.
12. Stories have been shared since the beginning of time.

You can use "for" with all tenses, but "since" is typically used with perfect tenses because it often indicates actions or situations that continue from the past into the present.

 Why do we need to use for and since correctly

Using "for" and "since" correctly is important because it helps to clearly communicate the duration and starting point of actions or situations. "For" tells us the length of time an action has been happening, while "since" specifies the moment when the action started. Proper use of these words ensures that the listener or reader understands the exact timeframe being referred to, which is crucial for accurate and effective communication, especially when discussing past events that continue into the present.