Since y for, y luego cuatro preguntas de práctica

You will learn how to use since and for with the present perfect, then practise with four questions.

First, the rule. Use since and for with the present perfect.

The present perfect connects the past with now. For situations continuing now, use have or has plus the past participle. Add since before the starting point, or for before the length of time.

I have lived here since Monday. Since Monday tells you when the situation started, and I still live here now. She has worked here for six years.

For six years tells you how long she has worked here, and she still works here now. Notice that since introduces the starting point, while for introduces the duration.

We have been friends since we met. Here, since we met gives the starting event. The verb met is past simple because that starting event happened in the past.

A common mistake is using since before a duration, such as six years. Use for six years, not since six years. Choose by meaning: when it started, or how long it has lasted.

Question one. I have lived here blank ten years. Option A, since. Option B, for.

The clue is ten years, which tells you the length of time. The present perfect shows that living here began in the past and continues now. Use for before a duration.

Rule out option A, since, because ten years is not a starting point. Choose option B, for.

I have lived here for ten years.

Question two. She has been ill blank Monday. Option A, since. Option B, for.

The clue is Monday, a particular starting point. Her illness started on Monday and continues now. Use since before that starting point.

Rule out option B, for, because Monday does not tell you a length of time. Choose option A, since.

She has been ill since Monday.

Question three. He has worked here blank he graduated. Option A, for. Option B, since.

The clue is he graduated, which identifies a starting event. Graduated is past simple, but the main verb has worked connects that starting event with now. Use since to introduce the event that marks the starting point.

Rule out option A, for, because he graduated describes an event, not a duration. Choose option B, since.

He has worked here since he graduated.

Question four. I haven't seen her blank three months. Option A, since. Option B, for.

The clue is three months, a length of time. The negative present perfect means there has been no meeting during that period up to now. A negative sentence follows the same rule: use for before a duration.

Rule out option A, since, because three months is a duration, not a starting point. Choose option B, for.

I haven't seen her for three months.