B1 Verb Tenses 15 min read Moyen

Present Perfect: For vs. Since (Durée et Point de Départ)

Maîtrise for (durée) et since (point de départ) avec le Present Perfect pour des chronologies super claires !
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use 'for' to measure the length of time and 'since' to pinpoint the exact moment something started.

  • Use 'for' + a period of time (e.g., for 3 hours, for a decade).
  • Use 'since' + a specific point in time (e.g., since 9:00, since Monday).
  • Always use the Present Perfect (have/has + V3) to connect that past time to now.
Subject + have/has + V3 ... + 📏 for [Duration] / 📍 since [Start Point]

Overview

Tu as déjà remarqué comment ton cerveau bugue quand tu essaies de dire depuis combien de temps tu fais quelque chose ? Dans beaucoup de langues, on utilise simplement le présent et on croise les doigts. En anglais, on a un pont spécifique entre le passé et maintenant.
On l'appelle le Present Perfect. Mais les vraies stars du spectacle, ce sont deux petits mots : for et since. Ils nous disent si tu mesures une durée ou si tu pointes une date sur le calendrier.
Si tu attends une livraison de pizza for quarante minutes, tu utilises for. Si tu es fan de ce groupe indé since leur premier TikTok viral, tu utilises since. Se tromper entre les deux, c'est un peu comme mettre ses chaussures à l'envers.
Ça marche, mais tout le monde voit bien que quelque chose cloche. On utilise ces mots pour parler de choses qui ont commencé dans le passé et qui continuent encore maintenant. C'est le temps ultime de la saga en cours.
Peut-être que tu as ton téléphone actuel for deux ans. Ou peut-être que tu es réveillé since 6h00 du matin parce que le chien du voisin ne comprend pas le concept de grasse matinée. Dans tous les cas, ces deux mots t'aident à préciser le
depuis combien de temps
de ta vie.
C'est la différence entre dire
I am a gamer
(Je suis un gamer) et
I have been a gamer since I was five
(Je suis un gamer depuis mes cinq ans). L'un est un fait, l'autre est un héritage.

How This Grammar Works

Vois for comme un chronomètre et since comme un calendrier.
  • for mesure une durée. C'est pour une période de temps. Cela nous indique le nombre total de minutes, d'heures, de jours ou d'années.
  • since pointe un moment de départ. C'est pour un moment précis dans le passé où l'action a commencé.
Imagine que tu es dans un café en train d'attendre un ami qui est toujours en retard. Tu regardes ton téléphone. Il est 14h15. Tu es arrivé à 14h00.
Tu peux dire :
I have been here for fifteen minutes.
(Le total du chronomètre).
Ou tu peux dire :
I have been here since 2:00 PM.
(Le point de départ sur le calendrier/l'horloge).
Les deux phrases signifient exactement la même chose. La seule différence, c'est ta façon de regarder le temps. Est-ce que tu veux compter les cases (for) ou pointer la ligne de départ (since) ?
Petit conseil : si tu peux le compter (1, 2, 3...), tu utilises généralement for.
  • for three days (pendant trois jours)
  • for six months (pendant six mois)
  • for a long time (pendant longtemps)
S'il s'agit d'un nom ou d'un événement spécifique, utilise since.
  • since Monday (depuis lundi)
  • since last Christmas (depuis Noël dernier)
  • since I graduated (depuis que j'ai été diplômé)
Ne laisse pas le mot for te piéger en pensant au but (pour). On ne dit pas "c'est pour toi. On dit ça a duré pendant un certain temps".
C'est purement une question d'horloge. Rappelle-toi aussi qu'on les utilise avec le Present Perfect (have + past participle). Les utiliser avec le présent simple est une erreur classique qu'on corrigera plus tard.

Formation Pattern

1
Pour construire ces phrases, tu as besoin de trois ingrédients principaux. C'est comme faire un sandwich : le sujet est le pain, le have/has est le beurre, et le past participle est la délicieuse garniture. Ensuite, tu ajoutes ta touche de for ou since à la fin.
2
Choisis ton Sujet et ton Auxiliaire :
3
I / You / We / They + have (ou 've)
4
He / She / It + has (ou 's)
5
Ajoute le Verbe (past participle) :
6
Pour les verbes réguliers, ajoute simplement -ed (ex: worked, played).
7
Pour les irréguliers, il faudra les mémoriser (ex: been, known, had).
8
Sélectionne for ou since :
9
for + [Période de temps]
10
since + [Point précis dans le temps]

Conjugation Table

Form Example Translation
Positive I have lived here for two years. J'habite ici depuis deux ans.
Negative She hasn't called since Friday. Elle n'a pas appelé depuis vendredi.
Question Have you known him for long? Le connais-tu depuis longtemps ?
Short Form They've been married since 2010. Ils sont mariés depuis 2010.

Memory Trick

Pense à la lettre S dans Since. S comme Starting Point (Point de départ).

Pense à la lettre O dans fOr. O comme une périOde de temps (comme un cercle de temps).

Ou, retiens simplement : For = Four (le chiffre 4). Si tu vois un chiffre comme 4 heures, 5 jours, 10 ans, utilise for !

When To Use It

Tu utilises cette structure quand quelque chose n'est pas terminé. Si tu as emménagé à Londres en 2020 et que tu y habites toujours, tu as besoin de cette grammaire. Si tu as commencé à regarder une série Netflix à 20h00 et que tu es toujours sur le canapé à minuit (on est tous passés par là), tu as besoin de cette grammaire.
Scénario 1 : États et sentiments
Certains verbes sont statiques. Ils ne bougent pas vraiment. Des verbes comme be, have (pour la possession), know et like.
  • "I've known my best friend since kindergarten." (Je connais mon meilleur ami depuis la maternelle.)
  • "She's been a vegetarian for six months." (Elle est végétarienne depuis six mois.)
Scénario 2 : Boulots et habitudes
Si tu as commencé un travail ou un passe-temps et que tu n'as pas encore arrêté.
  • "He's worked at Google since last year." (Il travaille chez Google depuis l'année dernière.)
  • "I've played guitar for ages." (Je joue de la guitare depuis une éternité.)
Scénario 3 : Contextes sociaux modernes
Pense à ta vie numérique.
  • "I haven't posted on Instagram since my vacation." (Je n'ai rien posté sur Instagram depuis mes vacances.)
  • "We've been in this WhatsApp group for three years." (On est dans ce groupe WhatsApp depuis trois ans.)
  • "I've had this Uber account since 2015." (J'ai ce compte Uber depuis 2015.)

Real Conversations

Conversation A (À une fête)

S

Sam

How long have you lived in the city?
A

Alex

I've been here for five years. I moved since I finished university.
S

Sam

Wait, did you mean since I finished or for five years?
A

Alex

Both! I've been here since 2019.

Conversation B (En attendant à manger)

T

Taylor

Is the pizza here yet?
J

Jordan

No, I've waited for an hour!
T

Taylor

Actually, you ordered since 7:30 PM. That's only 40 minutes. Stop being dramatic.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1Le piège du Present Simple
✗
I am here since Monday.
✓
I have been here since Monday.
Dans beaucoup de langues (comme l'allemand ou le français), on utilise le présent pour ça. En anglais, si tu utilises since, tu *dois* utiliser le Present Perfect. Si tu dis
I am here since Monday
, un anglophone te comprendra, mais son cerveau va tiquer.
  1. 1L'erreur For + Date
✗ "I've worked here for January."
✓ "I've worked here since January."
Rappelle-toi : janvier est un point sur le calendrier. Tu ne peux pas avoir une
durée de janvier
à moins de vouloir dire le mois entier, auquel cas tu dirais for one month.
  1. 1L'erreur Since + Durée
✗ "I've known her since two years."
✓ "I've known her for two years."
Tu ne peux pas pointer deux ans sur un calendrier. Tu peux pointer 2022, mais pas la durée elle-même.
  1. 1Utiliser Ago avec Since
✗ "I've been here since two hours ago."
✓ "I've been here for two hours."
Ajouter ago transforme l'expression en un moment passé et terminé. Reste simple.

Contrast With Similar Patterns

Present Perfect (For/Since) vs. Past Simple
C'est le plus gros combat de boss de la grammaire anglaise.
Past Simple : L'action est morte et enterrée. C'est fini.
  • I lived in Paris for two years.
    (Je n'y habite plus. C'est un souvenir.)
  • I was a student in 2015.
    (Je suis un adulte qui travaille maintenant.)
Present Perfect : L'action est vivante. Elle continue de se produire.
  • I have lived in Paris for two years.
    (Je suis à Paris en ce moment même, probablement en train de manger un croissant.)
  • I have been a student since 2021.
    (J'ai encore des examens et plus d'argent.)
Remarque comment for peut être utilisé avec les deux ! Mais le sens change. Avec le Past Simple, for te dit combien de temps un événement *terminé* a duré.
Avec le Present Perfect, il te dit combien de temps un événement *en cours* a duré jusqu'à présent. Since, en revanche, est presque exclusivement un ami du Present Perfect.

Quick FAQ

Q : Est-ce que je peux utiliser for avec le futur ?
A : Oui !
I am going to stay in London for a week.
Mais c'est une règle de grammaire différente. Pour l'instant, concentre-toi sur la connexion passé-vers-maintenant.
Q : On dit
for a long time
ou
since a long time
?
A : Toujours
for a long time
. Tu ne peux pas pointer un long moment sur un calendrier.
Q : Est-ce que je peux dire since always ?
A : C'est courant à l'oral ("I've loved pizza since always), mais techniquement always" n'est pas un point précis dans le temps. Il vaut mieux dire "I've always loved pizza."
Q : Et pour all day ?
A : On n'utilise pas for avec all. Dis juste "I've been working all day." Pas besoin de for ! En l'ajoutant, tu auras l'air d'un robot d'un film de science-fiction des années 70.
Q : Est-ce que since peut être suivi d'une phrase ?
A : Oui ! "I've been happy since I met you. Le moment où je t'ai rencontré" est le point de départ.

Progressive Practice

1

Identifie si le mot temporel est un point (8h00, lundi) ou une période (2 heures, 3 semaines).

2

Entraîne-toi à dire depuis combien de temps tu as ton téléphone actuel en utilisant for.

3

Entraîne-toi à dire quand tu as commencé à apprendre l'anglais en utilisant since.

4

Essaie de trouver une erreur dans une légende sur les réseaux sociaux (il y en a partout !).

Present Perfect + For/Since Structure

Subject Auxiliary Past Participle Time Marker
I / You / We / They
have
lived here
for 5 years
He / She / It
has
worked here
since January
I / You / We / They
haven't
seen him
for a week
He / She / It
hasn't
called
since Tuesday
Have
you
been here
for long?
Has
she
known him
since school?

Common Contractions

Full Form Contraction Example
I have
I've
I've been here for an hour.
You have
You've
You've known her since 2010.
He has
He's
He's worked here for a month.
She has
She's
She's been sick since Friday.
It has
It's
It's been raining for days.
We have
We've
We've lived here since June.
They have
They've
They've waited for ages.

Meanings

In English, the Present Perfect is used to describe actions that began in the past and continue into the present. 'For' and 'since' are the specific tools we use to tell the listener exactly how long that action has been happening.

1

Duration (For)

Measuring the total length of time from the start until now.

“She has been a doctor for 20 years.”

“We have waited for ages.”

2

Starting Point (Since)

Identifying the specific date, time, or event when the action began.

“I have known him since kindergarten.”

“It hasn't rained since last Tuesday.”

3

Negative Duration

Expressing how long it has been since an event last occurred.

“I haven't eaten for six hours.”

“She hasn't called since her birthday.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Present Perfect: For vs. Since (Durée et Point de Départ)
Préposition Fonction Suivi de Exemple
for
Durée (combien de temps ?)
Période de temps
I have lived here for 5 years.
since
Point de départ (quand ça a commencé ?)
Moment précis dans le temps
She has studied since 2020.
for
Durée d'une action
Quantité de temps
We've been waiting for an hour.
since
Origine d'une action
Événement ou date spécifique
He hasn't called since Monday.
for
Temps total passé
Nombre + unité de temps
They have worked on it for weeks.
since
De ce moment-là à maintenant
Proposition au passé simple / Année
I've known him since we were kids.

Spectre de formalité

Formel
I have been a resident of this city for over a decade.

I have been a resident of this city for over a decade. (residency)

Neutre
I've lived here for ten years.

I've lived here for ten years. (residency)

Informel
I've been here for ages.

I've been here for ages. (residency)

Argot
I've been repping this city since forever.

I've been repping this city since forever. (residency)

Present Perfect : For vs Since

Present Perfect

Utiliser FOR (Durée)

  • How long? Se concentre sur la durée
  • Period of time ex: 'three years', 'a long time'
  • Ongoing L'action continue
  • Counting Mesurer l'étendue du temps

Utiliser SINCE (Point de départ)

  • When did it start? Se concentre sur le moment de début
  • Point in time ex: '2020', 'last Tuesday'
  • Until now De ce point jusqu'à maintenant
  • Marking Identifier le début sur une chronologie

Contextes courants

  • Experience Combien de temps tu as eu une expérience
  • Situations États ou emplois en cours
  • Questions Souvent avec 'How long...?'
  • News Rapporter la durée des événements

For vs Since : Côte à côte

FOR (Durée)
for two hours Durée
for many years Période de temps
for a week Durée
for ages Longue durée indéfinie
SINCE (Point de départ)
since 2 PM Heure spécifique
since I was a child Événement/proposition passée
since Monday Jour spécifique
since 2021 Année spécifique

Choisir For ou Since avec le Present Perfect

1

La phrase parle-t-elle d'une action ou d'un état qui a commencé dans le passé et est toujours en cours ou pertinent maintenant ?

YES
Continuer
NO
Utilise le Simple Past ou un autre temps.
2

Parles-tu d'une LONGUEUR DE TEMPS (ex: deux heures, cinq jours, une décennie) ?

YES
Utilise FOR
NO
Continuer.
3

Parles-tu d'un MOMENT DE DÉPART SPÉCIFIQUE (ex: 2020, lundi dernier, j'étais enfant) ?

YES
Utilise SINCE
NO
Réévalue ton timing ou ton contexte.

Expressions de temps avec For & Since

⏳

Avec FOR

  • • two hours
  • • a week
  • • six months
  • • many years
  • • a long time
  • • ages
🗓️

Avec SINCE

  • • 2020
  • • last Monday
  • • I was born
  • • the accident
  • • this morning
  • • he left
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Exemples par niveau

1

I have been here for two hours.

2

She has been happy since Monday.

3

We have had this car for a week.

4

He has been a student since 2023.

1

They have lived in this house for ten years.

2

I haven't seen him since last night.

3

Has it rained since Friday?

4

She has worked at the bank for six months.

1

I've known my best friend since we were in primary school.

2

He hasn't eaten meat for a very long time.

3

We've been waiting for the bus for over forty minutes.

4

How long has she been interested in photography?

1

The company has been expanding its reach since the new CEO took over.

2

I've been meaning to call you for ages, but I've been so busy.

3

Prices have been rising steadily since the beginning of the year.

4

He's been playing the piano for most of his life.

1

Since the inception of the project, we have encountered numerous hurdles.

2

The policy has been in place for what seems like an eternity.

3

I haven't felt this energized since I was in my early twenties.

4

They have been living under a cloud of suspicion for several months now.

1

The landscape has undergone a radical transformation since the industrial era began.

2

For all the time I've spent researching, I've yet to find a definitive answer.

3

Since having been granted autonomy, the department has flourished.

4

The tradition has been upheld for generations, since time immemorial.

Facile à confondre

Present Perfect: For vs. Since (Duration & Starting Point) vs Present Perfect vs. Past Simple

Learners use Past Simple for ongoing actions or Present Perfect for finished ones.

Present Perfect: For vs. Since (Duration & Starting Point) vs For vs. During

Both relate to time, but 'during' is used with a noun to say *when* something happened, not *how long*.

Present Perfect: For vs. Since (Duration & Starting Point) vs Since vs. From

Learners use 'from' to indicate a starting point with Present Perfect.

Erreurs courantes

✗

I am here for two days.

✓

I have been here for two days.

You cannot use the present simple for actions that started in the past.
✗

I have been here since two hours.

✓

I have been here for two hours.

Use 'for' for duration (hours), not 'since'.
✗

She has work here since 2010.

✓

She has worked here since 2010.

Missing the past participle (V3).
✗

I have lived here since a long time.

✓

I have lived here for a long time.

'A long time' is a duration, not a point.
✗

I've been here since I was borned.

✓

I've been here since I was born.

'Born' is already the participle.
✗

He has since Monday been sick.

✓

He has been sick since Monday.

Incorrect word order.
✗

We have known us for years.

✓

We have known each other for years.

Confusing reflexive pronouns with 'each other'.
✗

I've been knowing him for years.

✓

I've known him for years.

'Know' is a stative verb and shouldn't be continuous.
✗

It's been a long time since I don't see him.

✓

It's been a long time since I saw him.

After 'since', use the positive Past Simple to show the last time something happened.
✗

I have lived here since five years ago.

✓

I have lived here for five years.

Don't mix 'since' and 'ago'.
✗

Since two years, I have been working here.

✓

For two years, I have been working here.

Even at advanced levels, L1 interference with 'since' for duration persists.
✗

I have for many years sought the truth.

✓

I have sought the truth for many years.

Awkward adverbial placement in modern English.

Structures de phrases

I have been ___ for ___.

She has known ___ since ___.

It has been ___ since ___.

How long have you ___?

Real World Usage

Job Interviews constant

I have worked in sales for over six years.

Doctor's Appointments very common

I've had this pain since yesterday morning.

Dating/Socializing common

I've lived in this neighborhood since I was a kid.

Customer Support common

I've been waiting for a refund for two weeks.

LinkedIn Profiles very common

Software engineer since 2015.

Social Media Bios occasional

Married to my best friend since '18.

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💡

Le test "For" vs "Since"

Quand tu doutes, pose-toi la question : est-ce que je compte une période de temps (combien de temps ?) ou est-ce que j'indique un moment précis où ça a commencé (quand ça a commencé ?) ? Ce petit truc marche presque toujours !
Have you been here for a long time?
(Durée) vs
Have you been here since noon?
(Point de départ).
⚠️

Ne mélange pas les temps !

Souviens-toi, for et since vont généralement avec le Present Perfect ou le Present Perfect Continuous. Évite de les utiliser avec le Simple Past si l'action est toujours en cours ou pertinente maintenant.
I have lived here for five years
est correct,
I lived here for five years
(si tu y vis encore) est faux.
🎯

Pense à ta propre vie !

T'entraîner avec ta propre histoire, c'est génial ! "I've lived in Paris for five years.« »I've known my best friend since primary school." Ça rend la grammaire personnelle et facile à retenir.
🌍

Nuances régionales

Même si les règles sont claires, dans une conversation très décontractée, tu pourrais entendre de légères variations, surtout avec for. Tiens-toi aux usages standards pour un anglais clair et compris de tous. "I haven't seen her in ages" (plutôt que for ages, mais les deux sont compris).
💡

Utilise-les dans les questions

Tu peux utiliser How long...? pour demander une durée (
How long have you been waiting?
). La réponse utilisera presque toujours for ou since.
How long has she been famous?
(Depuis combien de temps est-elle célèbre ?).

Smart Tips

Try to see if you can put the word 'all' before the time. If you can say 'all my life', you can usually use 'for' (for my whole life). If you can't, it's likely 'since'.

I have been here since three days. → I have been here for three days.

Always put the verb after 'since' in the Past Simple.

I've been happy since I have moved here. → I've been happy since I moved here.

Start your answer with 'For...' or 'Since...' to immediately give the listener the time context they need.

I am here two hours. → I've been here for two hours.

Use 'Since [Year]' to show your start date at a company. It looks professional and clear.

Working here from 2010. → Manager since 2010.

Prononciation

/aɪv bɪn/

Contraction Stress

In 'I've been', the 've' is almost silent. The stress is on 'been'.

/sɪns/

Since vs. Sins

The 'ce' in 'since' is a sharp 's' sound. Do not pronounce it like 'z'.

/fər/

For reduction

In fast speech, 'for' often sounds like 'fer'.

Emphasis on Duration

I've been waiting for FIVE hours!

Conveys frustration or surprise at the length of time.

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

FOR is for the 'Four' (length) of the journey; SINCE is for the 'Start' of the story.

Association visuelle

Imagine 'FOR' as a ruler measuring a piece of string (the duration). Imagine 'SINCE' as a push-pin on a calendar (the starting point).

Rhyme

For is the length, Since is the start; keep them together, don't pull them apart!

Story

I have been a traveler for ten years. I have been in this city since Tuesday. I have had this map for a long time, ever since I left home.

Word Web

DurationStarting PointUnfinishedHaveHasPast ParticipleTimeline

Défi

Look at your watch. Write one sentence with 'for' and one with 'since' about how long you have been studying today.

Notes culturelles

BrE speakers are very strict about using Present Perfect with 'just', 'already', and 'yet' alongside 'for/since'.

AmE speakers sometimes use the Past Simple with 'for' even if the action is ongoing, though Present Perfect is still preferred in writing.

Using 'since [Year]' is a standard way for companies to show heritage and reliability on logos.

The Present Perfect developed in Germanic languages to express a state resulting from a past action. 'For' comes from Old English meaning 'because of' or 'intended for', while 'since' comes from 'siththan' (after that).

Amorces de conversation

“

How long have you lived in your current house?

“

What is a hobby you've had since you were a child?

“

How long have you been studying English, and what has been the hardest part?

“

Since the pandemic started, how has your daily routine changed?

Sujets d'écriture

Write about a possession you have had for a long time. Why is it special?
Describe your career or educational journey. Use 'since' to mark important milestones.
Reflect on a friendship. How long have you known them and how has the relationship evolved?
Discuss a global issue that has been in the news for a long time. What has changed since it first began?

Erreurs courantes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Choisis la bonne préposition ("for" ou "since") pour compléter la phrase.

I haven't visited my grandparents ___ Christmas.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: since
Christmas est un point précis dans le temps, donc since est le bon choix.
Trouve et corrige l'erreur dans la phrase. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

They have been living here since five years.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: They have been living here for five years.
Five years indique une durée, pas un point de départ, donc for est nécessaire à la place de since.
Quelle phrase utilise correctement "for" ou "since" ? Choix multiple

Choisis la phrase correcte :

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: She has studied all morning since 8 AM.
8 AM est un point de départ précis, ce qui nécessite since. Le Present Perfect est aussi utilisé correctement.
Remets les mots dans l'ordre pour former une phrase correcte. Sentence Reorder

Arrange the words in the correct order:

All words placed

Click words above to build the sentence

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I've been watching Netflix for two hours
L'ordre correct utilise I've been watching (Present Perfect Continuous) et for two hours (durée).

Score: /4

Exercices pratiques

8 exercises
Choose the correct preposition. Choix multiple

I have been a teacher ___ 2010.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: since
2010 is a specific starting point, so we use 'since'.
Fill in the blank with 'for' or 'since'.

They have lived in Paris ___ three months.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: for
Three months is a duration/period of time.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

I am knowing him for five years.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I have known him for five years.
'Know' is a stative verb and must be in the Present Perfect Simple.
Rewrite the sentence using 'since'. Sentence Transformation

I moved here in January. (I have lived...)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I have lived here since January.
The starting point is January.
Match the time expression to the correct preposition. Match Pairs

1. ___ a long time / 2. ___ I was young / 3. ___ ten o'clock

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1-for, 2-since, 3-since
'A long time' is duration; the others are points.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: How long have you had that cold? B: ___

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I've had it for three days.
Duration requires 'for' and the Present Perfect.
Which sentence is correct? Grammar Sorting

Select the grammatically perfect sentence.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: It hasn't rained since last month.
'Last month' is a point in time.
Is this rule true or false? True False Rule

We use 'since' with a period of time like 'six weeks'.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
We use 'for' with periods of time.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

12 exercises
Choisis la bonne préposition ("for" ou "since") pour compléter la phrase. Texte trous

My phone hasn't stopped ringing ___ I posted that viral video.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: since
Trouve et corrige l'erreur dans la phrase. Error Correction

I haven't eaten a decent meal for last week.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I haven't eaten a decent meal since last week.
Quelle phrase utilise correctement "for" ou "since" ? Choix multiple

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The team have been developing this app since 2023.
Traduis en anglais : 'Llevo estudiando español desde hace un año.' Traduction

Translate into English: 'Llevo estudiando español desde hace un año.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["I have been studying Spanish for a year.","I've been studying Spanish for a year."]
Remets les mots dans l'ordre pour former une phrase correcte. Sentence Reorder

Arrange these words into a sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I've known him since we were kids
Associe les expressions avec `for` ou `since`. Match Pairs

Match the phrases with `for` or `since`:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: matched
Choisis la bonne préposition ("for" ou "since") pour compléter la phrase. Texte trous

How long have you been waiting ___ the bus?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: for
Trouve et corrige l'erreur dans la phrase. Error Correction

The store is closed since three days.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The store has been closed for three days.
Quelle phrase utilise correctement "for" ou "since" ? Choix multiple

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I haven't played video games since my childhood.
Traduis en anglais : 'No he hablado con ella desde que se mudó.' Traduction

Translate into English: 'No he hablado con ella desde que se mudó.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["I haven't spoken to her since she moved out.","I haven't talked to her since she moved out."]
Remets les mots dans l'ordre pour former une phrase correcte. Sentence Reorder

Arrange these words into a sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: They've been working on this project for five hours
Associe chaque expression de temps avec la bonne préposition. Match Pairs

Match the expressions with `for` or `since`:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: matched

Score: /12

FAQ (8)

Yes, but it means the action is finished. `I lived there for two years` means you don't live there now. `I have lived there for two years` means you still live there.

It is always `for two years`. You use `since` only for a specific date or time, like `since 2022`.

Yes! You can say `since I was a child` or `since I started my job`. The verb in the 'since' clause is usually in the Past Simple.

Use `for` to say how long (for 2 hours). Use `during` to say when something happened (during the movie).

No, that is incorrect. You should say `for a long time` because it is a duration.

Because `be` is a stative verb. We use it to describe states (like being a student or being in a city) that started in the past and continue now.

Generally, no. In English, we use the Present Perfect to show that an action started in the past and continues now.

It is very common in informal, spoken English, but in formal writing, you should use a specific time or `for a very long time`.

Scaffolded Practice

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Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

Spanish moderate

desde / hace

English requires the Present Perfect, not the Present Simple.

French partial

depuis

English distinguishes between 'for' and 'since' and requires a different verb tense.

German high

seit

English uses two different words (for/since) and the Present Perfect.

Japanese low

kara / aida

Japanese doesn't have a direct 'Present Perfect' equivalent in the same way English does.

Arabic moderate

mundhu (منذ)

English requires a specific choice between two prepositions.

Chinese low

le (了) / yijing (已经)

Chinese has no verb conjugation for tense, making the 'have + V3' structure very difficult for learners.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Next
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