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Boys vs girls: since two hours or for two hours? | English from movies
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Select a line to hear it again. Tap any word to see what it means. Underlined words are the key words of this video.
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Hana I two . is .
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Theo is two ?
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Hana two . Ask .
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Tutor , not .
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Rear Window Not for a .
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Tutor and .
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Twelve O'Clock High For two , sir.
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Tutor , a bit .
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Alita: Battle Angel But that's .
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Theo Oh, you for two . I on my .
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Hana For two . So I .
Choose an answer for each question, then check it.
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Question 1
Choose the correct sentence.
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Question 2
Which word completes the sentence? "I haven't eaten ___ breakfast."
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Question 3
Your friend asks if you still play tennis, and you can't remember the last time. Which answer fits best?
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Question 4
How does "But that's just since yesterday" sound in the movie line?
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Question 5
Which sentence counts time from an event until now?
Quick answer
Boys vs girls: "since two hours" or "for two hours"?
Say "for two hours," not "since two hours." Use for with a length of time, such as two hours, three days or a long time. Use since with the moment something started, such as yesterday, Monday or 3 o'clock.
Key words in this video
Tap any word to see what it means. Underlined words are the key words of this video.
Each line explained
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Not for a long time. Tone: Relaxed, not exact
Use this short answer when something hasn't happened in a while and you don't want to give an exact number. If you know the exact time, use a number instead, as in "for six months."
“Not for a long time.”
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For two hours. Tone: Clear and exact
Use for plus a number to say how long something lasted. It's a natural short answer to "How long?" Don't use since here, because two hours is a length of time, not a starting point.
“For two hours, sir.”
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But that's just since yesterday. Tone: Strong, a bit annoyed
Use since with a point in time, like yesterday, to say when something started. Here the speaker sounds a little annoyed because the time feels short. Say it calmly if you are only giving information.
“But that's just since yesterday.”
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I've been waiting since three o'clock. Tone: Exact, a little impatient
Use since with a clock time to show when your waiting started and that it is still going on. It works well when someone is late. With a friend, it can sound like a complaint, so watch your voice.
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We've known each other for years. Tone: Warm and general
Use for years when the exact number doesn't matter. It's friendly and common when you introduce an old friend. Don't say "since years."
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I haven't seen her since Monday. Tone: Neutral, factual
Use since with a day when you say the last time something happened. It fits negative sentences well. If you want to give the length instead, say "for three days."
Common mistakes
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Not quite
I waited since two hours.Better I waited for two hours.
Two hours is a length of time, so it needs for. Since needs a starting point, like 3 o'clock or yesterday. This is exactly what confuses Theo in the Short.
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Not quite
I live here since 2020.Better I've lived here since 2020.
When an action started in the past and continues now, English usually uses the present perfect (have or has + past participle) with since and for.
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Not quite
I've been here since a long time.Better I've been here for a long time.
A long time is a length of time, not a moment, so use for. The film line "Not for a long time" shows the correct pattern.
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