Since and For - What is the difference?

For and Since are prepositions. Let’s look at the difference between these two words.

 

FOR

"For" is used with a period of time. This is often a number plus a time word.

"For" is used when we measure the duration of something or how long it lasts. It has a start point and an end point and can be used in different tenses.

Here are some example sentences:

• I studied French in Paris for two years. (This talks about a duration of two years and is in the past tense)
• I will be there for around two hours. (This is in the future tense)
• They have been married for 27 years. (This is in the present perfect tense)

 

SINCE

"Since" is used with a starting point or a time or date. It refers to something that started in the past and continues until now. "Since" is mostly used with the present perfect and perfect progressive tense.

For example:

• She hasn’t eaten since 2 o’clock. (The period of not eating started at 2 and continues until now)
• He has been working here since February.
• We have been married since 2016. (We got married in 2016 and we continue to be married now)

 

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