UNIT 9 LESSON 06: FOR OR SINCE?

Let’s talk about how long things have been true! ⏳

⏳ HOW LONG?

We use the Present Perfect with for and since when something started in the past and is still true now.

For example:

• I have lived here for five years.
• She has known her best friend since primary school.
• We have been friends for a long time.

🕐 FOR OR SINCE?

The difference is simple:

FOR	SINCE
a period of time	a starting point
for two years	since 2024
for three weeks	since Monday
for five minutes	since 8 o’clock
for a long time	since last summer

FOR tells us how long.

I have lived here for five years.

SINCE tells us when it started.

I have lived here since 2021.

❓ HOW LONG HAVE YOU…?

We use How long…? to ask about the length of time something has continued.

Question	Answer
How long have you lived here?	I’ve lived here for five years.
How long have you known Ana?	I’ve known her since primary school.
How long has he played football?	He’s played football for three years.
How long has she had her bike?	She’s had it since 2023.

🎯 FOR = TIME / SINCE = START

Look at these pairs:

• I have studied English for six years.
• I have studied English since 2020.
• My family has lived here for ten years.
• My family has lived here since 2016.

The meaning is similar, but the information is different: for gives the duration and since gives the starting point.

📖 READ: HOW LONG HAVE THEY…?

Read about three friends and the things they have been doing for some time.

Emma has lived in the same town for eight years. She has known her best friend, Mia, since primary school. Emma has played tennis for three years, and she has had her favourite racket since 2024.

Leo has studied English for six years. He has played the guitar since he was nine. He has had his guitar for two years, and he practises it every week.

Mia has lived near the beach since she was a baby. She has loved swimming for a long time. She has been a member of a swimming club since 2023.

🔎 CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

1. How long has Emma lived in the same town?
2. How long has Emma played tennis?
3. Since when has Emma known Mia?
4. How long has Leo studied English?
5. Since when has Leo played the guitar?
6. How long has Mia loved swimming?
7. Since when has Mia been a member of a swimming club?

✏️ PRACTISE: FOR OR SINCE?

Choose for or since.

1. I have lived here ___ five years.
2. She has known Tom ___ 2022.
3. We have been friends ___ a long time.
4. He has had his bike ___ last summer.
5. They have studied English ___ three years.
6. I have had this phone ___ January.

🎯 YOUR LIFE

Complete these sentences with information about you:

• I have lived in… for…
• I have studied English for…
• I have known my best friend since…
• I have had my favourite…
• I have played…

🗣️ ASK A FRIEND

Ask a friend these questions:

• How long have you lived here?
• How long have you studied English?
• How long have you known your best friend?
• How long have you had your favourite hobby?
• How long have you played your favourite sport?

🏆 A2 CHALLENGE

Write a short paragraph about your life. Use at least three sentences with for and three sentences with since.

Then write two How long…? questions that a friend can answer.

🎮 GAMES

Practise for, since and the Present Perfect with these games:

📥 Fichas descargables

📝 Resumen

In this lesson, you have learned how to use the Present Perfect with for and since to talk about situations that started in the past and continue now. You can now use for to talk about a period of time, since to say when something started and How long…? to ask about duration.