FOR & SINCE

When talking about times, we use "since" with a point in time (a moment in the past) to say how long we have done something.

"I've known him since I was a child."

"I've lived here since 2004."​

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Since + a point in time

However, if we want to talk about a period of time (from seconds to centuries) we use "for".

"I've worked here for the last ten years."

"I've been friends with him for my whole life."​

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For + a period of time

Most (not all) periods of time can change into a point in time by adding "ago".

Not possible: "my whole life ago"​

And "as long as I can remember" + ago = "as long ago as I can remember"​

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Period of time + ago = point in time

Multiple Choice

I've lived in Munich ____ ten years.

• since

• for

Multiple Choice

I've lived in Munich ____ 2012.

• since

• for

Multiple Choice

I've lived in Munich ____ ten years ago.

• since

• for

Multiple Choice

We've been friends ______________.

• since our whole lives.

• for our whole lives ago.

• since we were children.

• since our whole lives ago.

"We've been friends since we were children."​

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"My whole life ago" doesn't make sense.

The equivalent phrase is "since I was a child."

Multiple Choice

I started working here _____________.

• since ten years ago.

• ten years ago.

• for ten years.

• since ten years.

"I started working here ten years ago."​

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We don't need "since" or "for" when we are talking about the moment something started or happened.

" I moved to London five years ago."

"We met in 1995."​​

​Congratulations, you made it to the end.

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You can repeat this slideshow as many times as you like.

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