Micro-listening
Since or For: Choosing Time Words
Since or for: which time word should you use?
Use 'since' for a specific starting point and 'for' for a duration of time. For example, 'We have lived here since 2021' gives the starting year, while 'We have lived here for five years' gives the length of time. Ongoing situations usually use the present perfect.
Key points
- Use 'since' before a starting day, date, time, or event.
- Use 'for' before a measured duration of time.
- Ongoing situations commonly use the present perfect.
- After 'since', a starting event usually takes the simple past.
This lesson has 5 stages. You can stop at any time and continue later.
At a glance
| Form | Use it for | Example |
|---|---|---|
| since + starting point | Shows when an ongoing period began | She has worked here since March. |
| for + duration | Shows the total length of time | She has worked here for six months. |
| since + past event clause | Names an event that started the period | We have remained here since we arrived. |
| for + simple past | Describes a finished period | He lived there for three years. |
Stage 1 of 5
Understand
What it means, when to use it, and mistakes to avoid.
The full explanation
Since marks the beginning boundary of an unfinished period. It answers the question When did this begin? For measures the quantity or duration of time across that period. It answers the question How long has this continued?
Marco has managed the hotel kitchen since October.
Why it works: October is the specific month when Marco began his job.
2 more examples
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Our family has owned this small cabin for twenty years.
Twenty years measures the total duration of ownership.
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They have studied Spanish together since they met in college.
The clause 'they met in college' describes the starting event.
Read the full guide
Identify the Starting Point with Since
When you want to tell someone the exact moment an ongoing situation started, use since. The word that follows since must point to a specific pin on your calendar or clock. You can name a calendar day like Tuesday, a year like 2021, an exact hour like eight in the morning, or a known milestone like breakfast. The key test is whether the phrase answers the question when the action began. If the words name a starting point rather than a number of hours or days, since is the correct choice.
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Daniel has lived in Chicago since 2018.
Why it works: 2018 is the specific starting year of his residency.
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The laboratory has collected water samples since Tuesday.
Why it works: Tuesday marks the calendar day when collection began.
Your turn
Which time phrase correctly follows since?
Answer: three o'clock
Show the answer
Answer: three o'clock
Three o'clock marks a specific starting point on the clock, whereas three hours and several days describe lengths of time.
Measure the Duration of Time with For
Use for when your time phrase counts the total length of the period rather than naming the moment it began. The words following for describe a duration or amount of time. You can measure time in seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, or centuries. You can also use approximate periods such as a long time, several weeks, or a few minutes. If you can count the units of time, or if the phrase describes how long the period extends from beginning to end, use for.
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The technicians have repaired the generator for three hours.
Why it works: Three hours counts the duration of the repair work.
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We have waited in the examination room for twenty minutes.
Why it works: Twenty minutes measures the exact amount of waiting time.
You can practise this again in Choosing Synonyms: Pick the Best Word and Optative sentences: choosing hope or wish.
Your turn
Choose the correct phrase to complete the sentence: 'The team has tested the software _____.'
Answer: for two weeks
Show the answer
Answer: for two weeks
Two weeks is a countable duration of time, which requires for. Yesterday and last month are specific starting points.
Connect Past to Present with the Present Perfect
Both since and for appear frequently with the present perfect tense because this verb form connects an event that began in the past with the present situation. To form the present perfect, combine have or has with the past participle of your main verb. If the situation ended completely in the past, do not use the present perfect or since. Instead, use the simple past with for to state how long the completed activity lasted before it ended.
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Anita has worked at the dental clinic for five years.
Why it works: Anita started five years ago and still works at the clinic today.
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Anita worked at the dental clinic for five years before opening her private practice.
Why it works: The simple past shows that her employment at the clinic is finished.
Your turn
Which sentence shows that Samuel currently lives in Miami?
Answer: Samuel has lived in Miami since 2018.
Show the answer
Answer: Samuel has lived in Miami since 2018.
The present perfect 'has lived' combined with 'since 2018' indicates that Samuel moved to Miami in 2018 and still lives there.
Mark Starting Moments with Event Clauses
You do not need to limit yourself to clock times or calendar dates after since. You can also use a complete clause with a subject and a verb to describe the starting event. In this pattern, the clause after since almost always takes the simple past because it names a single finished event that triggered the period. The main clause continues to use the present perfect because the resulting situation still continues today.
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Carlos has felt much more energetic since he joined the cycling club.
Why it works: Joining the club is a completed past event that started his increase in energy.
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Our office has used digital invoices since the company updated its billing system.
Why it works: The update was the starting event that established the new digital invoice routine.
Your turn
Which clause correctly completes the sentence: 'Lisa has saved more money since she _____?'
Answer: started cooking at home
Show the answer
Answer: started cooking at home
The event clause after since uses the simple past tense 'started' to name the specific past moment when the change began.
Distinguish Time from Reasons
English speakers frequently use since to mean because rather than to describe time. When since introduces a cause, it explains why an action occurred instead of when it started. To identify which meaning is intended, check the relationship between the clauses. If the clause answers why something happened, since means because. If the sentence connects a past starting point with an ongoing situation using the present perfect, since indicates time.
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Since the morning train was cancelled, we drove to the regional office.
Why it works: Here since gives the reason for driving rather than marking a starting time.
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We have used the regional office since January.
Why it works: January indicates the starting month, showing that since refers to time.
Your turn
In which sentence does since mean because?
Answer: Since the weather was rainy, the museum closed the sculpture terrace.
Show the answer
Answer: Since the weather was rainy, the museum closed the sculpture terrace.
In this sentence, since explains the reason the museum closed the sculpture terrace, acting as a synonym for because.
Hear Weak Forms of For in Fast Speech
In natural conversations, native speakers rarely pronounce for with a full vowel sound. Instead of pronouncing it with the clear vowel heard in four, speakers reduce the vowel to a quick schwa sound, sounding like /fə/ or /fɚ/. Meanwhile, the word since keeps its crisp initial /s/ and clear short vowel /ɪ/ with a prominent ending /s/. Listening for the rapid reduction of for helps you catch durations quickly when people discuss schedules or deadlines.
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We have discussed the budget for an hour.
Why it works: The word 'for' reduces to /fər/ before the vowel in 'an', sounding connected.
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The building has stood empty since August.
Why it works: The word 'since' retains a sharp /sɪns/ sound that stands out clearly.
Your turn
What sound change commonly happens to 'for' in fast spoken English?
Answer: The vowel reduces to a quick, unstressed schwa.
Show the answer
Answer: The vowel reduces to a quick, unstressed schwa.
Speakers usually reduce the vowel in for to an unstressed schwa sound (/fə/ or /fɚ/) during natural spoken conversation.
Correct Common Time-Word Mix-ups
A common mistake among English learners is placing since before a duration, such as saying since three days. If you catch yourself naming a counted number of days or weeks, switch immediately to for. Another frequent error is using for with a calendar point, such as for 2020. Remember that a calendar year is a starting point, not a length of time. Finally, do not use the simple present to describe an ongoing duration; say I have lived here, not I live here since two years.
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Incorrect: I have waited since twenty minutes.
Why it works: Twenty minutes is a duration, so the correct phrasing is 'for twenty minutes'.
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Correct: I have waited since twenty past two.
Why it works: Twenty past two is a specific clock time, so 'since' is the correct preposition.
Your turn
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Answer: Oliver has studied Japanese for six months.
Show the answer
Answer: Oliver has studied Japanese for six months.
Six months is a counted duration of time requiring 'for', combined with the present perfect verb 'has studied'.
Select Time Words in Workplace Updates
Choosing between since and for allows you to deliver clear, precise workplace updates. When your supervisor needs to know when an incident or project began, emphasize the starting point using since. When your team needs to understand the total time spent on a task or the delay incurred, state the duration using for. Matching the preposition to the exact question your reader cares about makes your business communication direct and easy to follow.
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Our IT department has investigated the network outage since eight this morning.
Why it works: This tells the manager exactly when the investigation started.
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Our IT department has investigated the network outage for four hours.
Why it works: This tells the manager the total time already invested in resolving the problem.
Your turn
You need to tell your manager when a server problem started. Which phrase is best?
Answer: The server has experienced issues since nine o'clock.
Show the answer
Answer: The server has experienced issues since nine o'clock.
Nine o'clock names the starting time of the issue, which correctly pairs with 'since' and the present perfect.
Common mistakes
What learners often say, what to say instead, and why.
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Not this:
I have known Priya since three months.Say: I have known Priya for three months.
'Three months' measures a duration, so use 'for', not 'since'.
-
Not this:
The project has continued for January.Say: The project has continued since January.
'January' is a starting point, so use 'since'.
-
Not this:
I live here since 2022.Say: I have lived here since 2022.
An ongoing situation beginning in the past needs the present perfect.
-
Not this:
We have improved since we have changed the plan.Say: We have improved since we changed the plan.
The event clause after time 'since' normally uses the simple past.
Use it naturally
How people really use “since”
Neutral Fine almost anywhere, at work or with friends.
Words it often goes with
- since OctoberLena has lived next door since October.
- since thenWe met in school and have been friends since then.
- since childhoodI have known Ben since childhood.
- since we metWe have shared a love of music since we met.
Questions about "Since or For: Choosing Time Words"
Do I always need to use the present perfect tense with since and for?
Not always, but the present perfect is the standard choice when a situation began in the past and continues into the present. You can use for with the simple past when an action is completely finished. In contrast, since almost always connects a past beginning to a continuing present situation.
She lived in Boston for two years before moving to Chicago.
She has lived in Chicago since 2022.
How can I tell if since means from a starting time or because?
Look at the clause that follows since. When since introduces a reason, it means because, and both clauses usually describe cause and effect. When since introduces a starting time or an event that marks the start of a period, the main verb is usually in the present perfect.
Since the train was delayed, we took a taxi.
We have waited on the platform since ten o'clock.
Can I say for yesterday or for last month?
No, because yesterday and last month name specific starting points rather than lengths of time. You should use since before specific points on the calendar. Use for only when you state the amount of time that passed, such as for two days or for four weeks.
I have felt unwell since yesterday.
I have felt unwell for twenty-four hours.
What tense should I use in the clause after since?
Use the simple past inside the clause after since to name the starting event. The main clause will still use the present perfect to describe what has continued until now.
We have stayed in touch since we graduated from college.
Pablo has worked in finance since he arrived in Seattle.
Before you go
Remember this
Check the words right after the time word. If they name a starting day, date, time, or event, choose since. If they count the length of time, choose for.
Stage 2 of 5
Listen
Hear it in real sentences, from short to long, and write what you hear.
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Listening 1 of 4
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Read the transcript
Doctor Gomez has been available since eight o'clock.
Use 'since' with 'eight o'clock' because eight o'clock names the specific starting time of availability.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- In "eight o'clock," listen for "eigh-to'clock," with no pause after "eight."
- Two words said as one.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- In "eight o'clock," listen for "eigh-to'clock," with no pause after "eight."
- Two words said as one.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- In "eight o'clock," listen for "eigh-to'clock," with no pause after "eight."
- Two words said as one.
Listening 2 of 4
Listen, then type what you hear. Replay as often as you need.
0:00
Read the transcript
Our driver has been here for eleven minutes.
Use 'for' with 'eleven minutes' because eleven minutes measures a duration of time.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- In "for eleven," listen for "fo-releven," with the r joining the start of "eleven."
- In American English this t sounds like a quick, soft d.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- In "for eleven," listen for "fo-releven," with the r joining the start of "eleven."
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- In "for eleven," listen for "fo-releven," with the r joining the start of "eleven."
- In American English this t sounds like a quick, soft d.
Try a longer clip. Listen once, then replay the part you missed.
Listening 3 of 4
Listen, then type what you hear. Replay as often as you need.
0:00
Read the transcript
Elena has run her ceramic workshop since April, plus her group has rented a bright space for eleven months.
April is a specific starting calendar month needing 'since', while eleven months is a measured period needing 'for'.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The final t or d is barely said before the next consonant.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The final t or d is barely said before the next consonant.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- Before "eleven months," listen for "fer," with a short, relaxed vowel.
This clip is longer. Follow the instruction above the answer field.
Listening 4 of 4
Listen, then type the missing words. The rest of the text is already there.
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Read the transcript
Our historic library has welcomed readers since autumn, when our city council completed repairs. Visitors have borrowed novel series for eleven weeks, while our research room has remained open for eight hours every afternoon. Ms. Chen has managed our reference desk since April, so please speak with her if visitors request access.
Use 'since' with starting times like 'autumn' and 'April', and 'for' with durations like 'eleven weeks' and 'eight hours'.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- In "for eight," listen for "fo-reight," with the final r joining the start of "eight."
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
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Speak
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Doctor Gomez has been available since eight o'clock.
Play the line slowly, then speak at the same time as the speaker. Copy the rhythm, not just the words.
Your turn
Say it your way
Imagine you are visiting an animal shelter to choose a dog. Speak for 30 to 60 seconds from memory. Tell a friend when one dog arrived, how long it has waited for a home, and why you want to adopt it. Invent the details.
Use: since for
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Hear how someone else might say it
I want to tell you about a dog called Max. He has lived at the shelter since June. It is September now, so he has waited for three months. He is a small brown dog with big ears. The staff say he is friendly and enjoys being around people. He has known another dog there since he arrived, so I think he likes other dogs too. I want to adopt him because I have space at home and would love a dog to walk with.
Try once more and answer this: What do you like most about this dog?
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