FOR OR SINCE? EXERCISE 1 (ESL)

level: Intermediate (B1/B2)

For and since are both used with the present perfect to describe something that started in the past and continues now — but they attach to different types of time expressions, and mixing them up is a very common mistake.

Grammar review For or since? — the key distinction

Both for and since are used with the present perfect tense to talk about something that started in the past and continues now. The difference is what follows them.

FOR + duration (a length of time):
for two hours, for a week, for six months, for three years, for a long time, for ages
“I’ve lived here for five years.” (five years = duration)

SINCE + starting point (a specific moment in time):
since 2015, since Monday, since last summer, since I was a child, since this morning
“I’ve lived here since 2019.” (2019 = when it started)

The quick test:
Can you replace it with “a length of time”? → for
Can you replace it with “starting from that moment”? → since

Common error:
✗ “I haven’t seen him since three years.”
✓ “I haven’t seen him for three years.” (three years = duration)

READY TO PRACTICE? LET’S GO!

Choose for or since to complete each sentence.

1. I've lived here _____ 2021.
a. for
b. since

2. I haven't seen him _____ three years.
a. for
b. since

3. I haven't spoken to her _____ high school.
a. for
b. since

4. We've been working on this _____ Monday.
a. for
b. since

5. I'm going on vacation ____ two weeks.
a. for
b. since

6. We've been working on this project _____ two months.
a. for
b. since

7. We've had a lot less work _____ Jim got hired.
a. for
b. since

8. It's been a while _____ I've watched that movie.
a. for
b. since

9. I haven't been able to exercise _____ the last two months.
a. for
b. since

10. Have you know about this _____ a long time?
a. for
b. since

11. Robert hasn't seen Amelia _____ she moved away.
a. for
b. since

12. I think I'll stay here _____ now.
a. for
b. since

13. The test lasted _____ two hours.
a. for
b. since

14. Frank has been working at the school _____ 2023.
a. for
b. since

15. Can we take a break ____ two weeks?
a. for
b. since

16. Several weeks have passed _____ they've spoken.
a. for
b. since

17. _____ you didn't have a winter coat, I bought you one.
a. For
b. Since

18. Michael will be on leave _____ all of January.
a. for
b. since

19. We've been thinking of adopting another dog _____ last year.
a. for
b. since

20. They've been thinking of adopting another dog _____ years.
a. for
b. since

CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PREPOSITION EXERCISES:
Prepositions: at, on, in 1 (B1/B2)
Prepositions: at, on, in 2 (B1/B2)
Prepositions of time 1 (A1/A2)
Prepositions of time 2 (A2/B1)
For or since? 1 (B1/B2)
Mixed prepositions 1 (B1/B2)
Mixed prepositions 2 (B1/B2)
Mixed prepositions 3 (A1/A2)
Prepositions after adjectives 1 (B1/B2)
Prepositions after adjectives 2 (B1/B2)

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