🎙 For or Since? Duration That Continues Now
Present Perfect Simple — duration form“since”
Use the present perfect with for and since to talk about situations that started in the past and are still true now. Choose correctly between for and since depending on whether you give a period of time or a starting point.
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Part 1 · Grammar
Jenny: “Today we're looking at how to talk about situations that started in the past and are still true now. Listen. I've lived in this city for ten years.”
Sofia: “And you still live there now?”
Jenny: “Exactly. I'm still here. That's the key idea. The situation isn't finished. It's continuing right now. We're not talking about something in the past that ended. We're talking about something that started in the past and is still happening.”
Sofia: “OK. So when do we use this?”
Jenny: “All the time. Listen to these. She's worked at that company for three years. He's known her since university. They've been together since last summer.”
Sofia: “And all of those situations are still true now?”
Jenny: “Yes, every one. She still works there. He still knows her. They're still together. Now, here's what to notice. Sometimes I say for, sometimes I say since. The choice depends on what comes next.”
Sofia: “Right. How do I choose?”
Jenny: “Use for with a period of time. For three years. For six months. For a long time. Use since with a starting point. Since Monday. Since two thousand and nineteen. Since last summer. Think of it this way: for tells you how long. Since tells you when it started.”
Sofia: “So for is like how long, and since is like when it started?”
Jenny: “Perfect. That's exactly it. Now let's look at the pattern. It goes: have or has, then the past participle, then for or since. I've lived here for ten years. She's worked there since January. That's the full structure.”
Sofia: “Got it. Can I try?”
Jenny: “Please do. Tell me something about your cat. How long have you had her?”
Sofia: “I've had her for two years.”
Jenny: “Lovely. And your flat? When did you move in?”
Sofia: “I've lived there since two thousand and twenty-one.”
Jenny: “Great. Now your best friend. How long have you known her?”
Sofia: “I've known her since we were at school.”
Jenny: “Excellent. One more. Your job. How long have you worked there?”
Sofia: “I've worked there for about five years.”
Jenny: “Perfect. Now let's look at two classic mistakes. Listen carefully. The first one is using the present simple instead of the present perfect. I live here for ten years. That's the mistake. The right way is: I've lived here for ten years. I've lived here for ten years. The present simple doesn't work here because the situation is still continuing now.”
Sofia: “I think I've done that before.”
Jenny: “Most learners do. The second mistake is using since with a period of time. Since ten years. That's wrong. The right word there is for. I've lived here for ten years. For ten years. Remember: since needs a starting point, not a period.”
Sofia: “So since ten years is always wrong?”
Jenny: “Always. Since needs a starting point, not a period. Since twenty-fifteen, yes. Since ten years, no. OK, let's wrap up. What are the two main things you're taking away from today?”
Sofia: “So I use have or has plus the past participle, and then for with a period or since with a starting point.”
Jenny: “Exactly right. The one thing to take away: when the situation is still true now, use the present perfect. Don't use the present simple. That's the switch to practise first. Once that feels natural, the choice between for and since will follow.”
Part 2 · Word focus
Jenny: “So we used 'since' a lot in the last part. But 'since' does more than one job. Let's look at all of them.”
Sofia: “Oh, really? I thought it just meant a starting point in time.”
Jenny: “That's the most common use, yes. Listen. I've worked here since January. 'Since' tells you when the situation started. January is the starting point, and the situation is still continuing now.”
Sofia: “Right. January is the starting point. And you're still working there now.”
Jenny: “Exactly. One more example. She's known him since they were at school. The starting point is their school days. The situation goes from there until now.”
Sofia: “OK, that's clear. So the starting point can be a time like January, or it can be a whole phrase like 'when they were at school'.”
Jenny: “Exactly right. Now, 'since' has a second job, and this one surprises a lot of learners. 'Since' can also mean 'because'. Listen. Since you're already here, why don't you stay?”
Sofia: “Oh. So 'since' is giving a reason there? It means 'because you're already here'?”
Jenny: “Yes, exactly. It's like saying 'because you're already here'. Now try this one. Since it's raining, let's take a taxi. What does 'since' mean there?”
Sofia: “So that means 'because it's raining, let's take a taxi'?”
Jenny: “Perfect. You'll hear this a lot in conversation. It sounds natural and a little more relaxed than 'because'. Both are correct — 'since' just feels slightly more informal in spoken English.”
Sofia: “I didn't know 'since' could do that. Is it common?”
Jenny: “Very common. Now, there's a third use. Listen to this. We met in two thousand and ten and have been friends ever since.”
Sofia: “Ever since. What does that mean exactly? Is it different from just saying 'since'?”
Jenny: “'Ever since' means from that moment until now, with no break. We met, and from that day to this day, we're still friends. The word 'ever' adds the idea that nothing has changed in between.”
Sofia: “So 'ever since' is like 'since then' but stronger? It means the situation has continued the whole time?”
Jenny: “Yes, stronger and more complete. One more example. She moved to Rome in two thousand and eighteen and has loved it ever since. From that year to now — no break, no change.”
Sofia: “Got it. So 'since' can show a starting point in time, give a reason like 'because', or work with 'ever' at the end to mean 'from that moment until now'.”
Jenny: “Exactly right. Now, here's a trap that catches a lot of learners. Some people say 'since' when they mean 'for'. Listen. I've lived here since ten years. That's wrong. Can you hear why?”
Sofia: “Oh. Is it because ten years is a period of time, not a starting point? 'Since' needs a specific moment, not a length of time.”
Jenny: “Exactly. 'Since' needs a starting point — a specific moment or date. The right sentence is: I've lived here for ten years. We use 'for' when we talk about a length of time. It's worth repeating because this mistake is very common.”
Sofia: “Right. Since two thousand and fifteen — yes. Since ten years — no. I need to use 'for' with a period of time.”
Jenny: “Perfect. OK, quick check. I'll say a sentence. You tell me what 'since' means in each one. Ready?”
Sofia: “Ready.”
Jenny: “First one. Since it's late, we should go home.”
Sofia: “That's 'because'. It's giving a reason — because it's late, we should go home.”
Jenny: “Good. Second one. They argued last year and haven't spoken since.”
Sofia: “Hmm. That's 'from that time until now'. The argument was the starting point, and they still haven't spoken. It's like 'ever since' but without 'ever'.”
Jenny: “Nice. And last one. He's been happy ever since he got that job.”
Sofia: “That's the starting point use. Getting the job is when it started, and he's been happy from that moment until now.”
Jenny: “Spot on. So the one thing to take away: 'since' most often shows a starting point in time. But when it comes before a reason, it means 'because'. And when you see 'ever since', it means from that moment to now, with no break. Notice which one fits the context, and you'll use it correctly.”
- used as a linking time word to mean 'from a point in the past until now' — shows when something started I've lived here since two thousand and fifteen.
- used as a linking time word to mean 'from a point in the past until another point in the past' — used in stories about the past She hadn't spoken to him since they argued last year.
- used as a linking word meaning 'because' — gives a reason, often at the start of a sentence Since you're already here, why don't you stay for dinner?
- used as a single adverb meaning 'between then and now' — often with 'ever' or alone at the end We met in two thousand and ten and have been friends ever since.
Part 3 · Story
Jenny: “OK, so here's a little story. It's eight fifty on a Monday morning, and two people are standing outside a big office building.”
Sofia: “Both of them look a bit nervous. Both of them are carrying a new bag. And neither of them has been inside the building before.”
Jenny: “The first person is called Marco. He's been awake since five thirty because he was too nervous to sleep.”
Sofia: “The second person is called Priya. She's worked in offices before, but she's only been at this company since last week — just for the paperwork.”
Jenny: “Marco looks at Priya. He thinks he recognises her. He says, 'Excuse me — is this your first day too?'”
Sofia: “Priya smiles and says, 'Yes! I've waited for this job for months. I'm so glad it's finally here.'”
Jenny: “Marco laughs. He says, 'Me too. I've known about this company since university. A friend of mine worked here.'”
Sofia: “Priya says, 'Oh, really? I've wanted to work in this area for years. Since I finished my last job, actually, I've been looking.'”
Jenny: “They go inside together. The building is big and a little confusing. They can't figure out where to go.”
Sofia: “Marco says, 'I've been standing here for five minutes and I still don't know which floor we need.'”
Jenny: “Priya laughs. She says, 'Since we're both lost, let's find someone to ask.' They stop a woman near the lift.”
Sofia: “The woman's name is Diane. She's worked there for eleven years. She knows every corner of the building.”
Jenny: “Diane takes them up to the fourth floor. She shows them the meeting room, the kitchen, and the canteen.”
Sofia: “In the canteen, Marco sees a photo on the wall. It's an old team photo. He stares at it.”
Jenny: “He says, 'That's my friend — the one I mentioned. He's been in that photo since two thousand and fourteen.'”
Sofia: “Priya looks closer. She says, 'Wait. I know him too. We've been friends since secondary school. Small world.'”
Jenny: “They both laugh. Diane smiles and says, 'This building has had moments like that ever since I've worked here.'”
Sofia: “By nine o'clock, Marco and Priya have already found the coffee machine and a good table in the canteen.”
Jenny: “They've only known each other for about twenty minutes, but it already feels like much longer than that.”
Sofia: “When you listen again, notice how many times you hear 'have' or 'has' plus a past participle, with 'for' or 'since'. See if you can catch them all.”
Jenny: “The present perfect with 'for' or 'since' came up ten times. And 'since' on its own — as a starting point, as a reason, and in 'ever since' — came up five times. Listen again and see how many you catch.”
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