Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'for' for a total duration of time and 'since' for a specific starting point in the past.
- Use 'for' with periods of time like 'two hours' or 'five years'. Example: 'I have lived here for five years.'
- Use 'since' with specific dates, times, or events like 'Monday' or '2010'. Example: 'I have lived here since 2010.'
- Always use the Present Perfect (have/has + past participle) to show the action is still happening now.
Overview
for や since を使ったなら、もうこの文法を使ってるってこと！for と since を使った現在完了形は、あなたの過去と現在をつなぐ最強の架け橋なんだ。これは単に何が起きたかだけじゃなくて、何が今も続いているかがポイント。多くの学習者が、ここで現在形を使ってしまって動けなくなるんだよね。「I am a student for three years.」なんて言ったりして。イタタ！ 英語だと、それは「あなたは今、学生です。でも合計3年間だけで、それは…今から始まるの？」みたいに聞こえて、ちょっと混乱しちゃう。過去に始まったアクションが、この文章を読んでいる今この瞬間まで続いていることを表すために、現在完了形を使うんだ。まだ最終回を迎えていないNetflixのシリーズみたいなものだね。2020年に見始めて、まだ次のエピソードを待っているような状態だよ。How This Grammar Works
for と since は、そのタイムラインの一部を測るための道具なんだ。ピザのデリバリーを待っているところを想像してみて。この「待ち」を説明する方法は2つあるよね。どのくらい待っているか（期間）を言うか、いつ待ち始めたか（時点）を言うか。for はストップウォッチのようなもの。分、時間、日、あるいは「何年も（ages）」といった、時間の量を測るんだ。since はカレンダー。午後9時、先週の火曜日、あるいは「お腹が空いたと気付いた瞬間」など、特定のモーメントを指す。よくある間違いは、期間に対して since を使おうとしちゃうこと。「since two hours（2時間から）」とは言えないよ。それは身長をガロンで測ろうとするようなもの。全然噛み合わないんだ！この文法は「状態動詞」――動作というよりは状況を表す動詞――と相性がバツグン。know、be、have、like といった動詞を思い浮かべてみて。親友とはもう何年も（for years）の付き合いだよね？一度だけ「知って」終わりじゃない。ずっと続いている状態なんだ。
Formation Pattern
I, You, We, They, He, She, It）から。
have を使うけど、「三人称単数」（He, She, It）には has を使おう。これを忘れると、英語の先生がちょっと泣いちゃうかも。
been, lived, known など）のことだね。
for ＋ 期間（例：for 3 days）または since ＋ 時点（例：since Monday）を使おう。
Conjugation Table
| {形式 | けいしき} | {例文 | れいぶん} | {翻訳 | ほんやく} |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| --- | --- | --- | |||
| 肯定文 | I have lived here for a month. |
私はここに1ヶ月住んでいる。（待って、ドイツ語は両方に seit を使うの？ややこしい！） |
|||
| 否定文 | She hasn't called since yesterday. |
彼女は昨日から電話してこない。 | |||
| 疑問文 | How long have you been here? | ここに来てどれくらい？ | |||
| 短縮形 | They've known him for ages. |
彼らは彼のことをもうずっと前から知っている。 |
When To Use It
- SNSの状況: 「このインスタのアカウントは2015年から持ってるよ（
since2015）」（今も持ってる！） - 就職面接: 「デベロッパーとして5年間働いています（
forfive years）」（今もデベロッパー！） - 人間関係: 「子供の頃から友達なんだ（
sincewe were kids）」（理想の友情！） - 最新テクノロジー: 「ノートPCが今朝からずっとつけっぱなしなんだ（
sincethis morning）」（願わくば、少し休ませてあげて。） - 健康: 「6時間何も食べてないんだ（
forsix hours）」（Uber Eatsが君を呼んでるよ。）
Common Mistakes
- 1現在形を使ってしまう: 「I am here since Monday.」と言うこと。ブブー！ 現在完了形が必要だよ。「I have been here since Monday.」
- 2'For' と 'Since' を混同する: 「I've been a gamer since 10 years.」と言うこと。間違い。 10年は期間だから、
forを使おう。「I've been a gamer for 10 years.」 - 3Since + Ago: 「I've been here since two hours ago.」と言うこと。これは意味が重複していて、マトリックスのバグみたいに聞こえる。単に「since 2:00」か「for two hours」と言おう。
- 4'Has' を忘れる: 「She have lived here for a week.」と言うこと。忘れないで、
Sheはこだわりが強いんだ。いつもhasを欲しがるよ。
Contrast With Similar Patterns
- 過去形: 「そこで1年間働いた（I worked there
fora year）」（もう辞めた。終わり。自由だ！） - 現在完了形: 「そこで1年間働いている（I have worked there
fora year）」（今もそこにいて、ちょうどメールを確認してるところ。）
Quick FAQ
since を特定の年と一緒に使える？
もちろん！「Since 1999」は定番だね。
for ages はどう？ フォーマルな言葉？
すごく一般的でカジュアルだよ。「あと5分で着く」と言いながら（実は今シャワーを浴び終わったばかりの）友達を、どれだけ長く待っているか大げさに言いたい時に使おう。
since の後に文章を置ける？
Yes! 「この街に引っ越してきてから（Since I moved to this city）」は1つの時点。人生が変わったその瞬間を指すんだ。
for a long time か since a long time どっち？
いつも for。 「長い間（long time）」は期間であって、カレンダー上の特定の点じゃないからね。
なんで has を忘れちゃうんだろう？
英語はいたずら好きだからね。とりあえず「He/She/It = Has、それ以外は Have」って覚えておこう。
Memory Trick
For の F を考えてみて。F は Figure（数値・量）の F。 For 5 minutes、For 4 days みたいにね。
Since の S を考えてみて。S は Starting point（開始地点）の S。 Since Saturday、Since September って感じだよ。
Present Perfect + For/Since Structure
| Subject | Auxiliary | Past Participle | Preposition | Time Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
I / You / We / They
|
have
|
lived
|
for
|
six months
|
|
He / She / It
|
has
|
lived
|
since
|
January
|
|
I / You / We / They
|
have not (haven't)
|
seen
|
for
|
ages
|
|
He / She / It
|
has not (hasn't)
|
seen
|
since
|
Monday
|
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 week.
|
|
She has
|
She's
|
She's been sick since yesterday.
|
|
We have
|
We've
|
We've lived here for years.
|
|
They have
|
They've
|
They've been friends since school.
|
Meanings
The Present Perfect with 'for' or 'since' describes an action that started in the past and continues into the present moment.
Duration of State
Used with stative verbs (be, know, like) to show how long a situation has existed.
“We have been friends for a long time.”
“I have known him since high school.”
Ongoing Action
Used with dynamic verbs to show an activity that hasn't stopped yet.
“He has played the piano for twenty minutes.”
“It has rained since this morning.”
Negative Duration
Used to express how much time has passed since an event last occurred.
“I haven't seen her for ages.”
“We haven't been to the cinema since March.”
Reference Table
| 時を表す表現 | 意味 | 現在完了形での例文 |
|---|---|---|
|
`for five years`
|
期間（どれくらいの長さ）
|
`I have worked here for five years.`
|
|
`since 2018`
|
開始点（いつ始まったか）
|
`She has lived here since 2018.`
|
|
`for a long time`
|
一般的な期間
|
`We haven't met for a long time.`
|
|
`since last Monday`
|
特定の開始日
|
`He hasn't eaten since last Monday.`
|
|
`for ages`
|
非公式、非常に長い期間
|
`I haven't seen you for ages!`
|
|
`since I was a child`
|
特定の過去の出来事を開始点として
|
`She has loved music since she was a child.`
|
フォーマル度スペクトル
I have been employed by this firm for six years. (Professional history)
I have worked here for six years. (Professional history)
I've been here for six years. (Professional history)
I've been at this gig for six years. (Professional history)
現在完了形: For と Since (継続中の行動)
FOR (期間)
- どれくらいの期間？ 「どれくらいの期間？」に答える
- 期間 例: 「3時間」「何年も」
- I've studied for two hours. 例文
SINCE (開始点)
- いつから？ 「いつから？」に答える
- 特定の時点/出来事 例: 「午前9時」「去年」「子供の頃」
- She's worked since 2010. 例文
よくある使い方
- 今も続いている 行動/状態が現在まで続く
- 状態動詞 (know, be) しばしば現在完了形と一緒に
- 経験 過去と現在を繋ぐ
For と Since: 早見表
現在完了形での「For」と「Since」の選び方
その行動/状態は継続中ですか（過去に始まり、今も続いている）？
「期間の合計」を述べていますか？
「特定の開始点」を述べていますか？
For と Since と一緒に使う時間表現
FOR (期間)
- • five minutes
- • two hours
- • a week
- • three months
- • several years
- • a long time
- • ages
- • what feels like forever
SINCE (開始点)
- • 9 AM
- • yesterday
- • last Monday
- • 2020
- • I was a child
- • he arrived
- • my birthday
- • the accident
レベル別の例文
I have been here for one hour.
I have been here for one hour.
She has lived here since 2022.
She has lived here since 2022.
We have had this car for a week.
We have had this car for a week.
He has been sick since Friday.
He has been sick since Friday.
I haven't seen him for two days.
I haven't seen him for two days.
They have been married since July.
They have been married since July.
How long have you been a teacher?
How long have you been a teacher?
She has known me for a long time.
She has known me for a long time.
I've worked in this office since I finished university.
I've worked in this office since I finished university.
We've been waiting for the bus for over forty minutes.
We've been waiting for the bus for over forty minutes.
Has he lived in London since he was a child?
Has he lived in London since he was a child?
I haven't eaten anything since breakfast.
I haven't eaten anything since breakfast.
The company has owned this property for several decades.
The company has owned this property for several decades.
I've been meaning to call you since we last met.
I've been meaning to call you since we last met.
Prices have risen significantly since the new law was passed.
Prices have risen significantly since the new law was passed.
He hasn't contributed to the project for quite some time.
He hasn't contributed to the project for quite some time.
The tension has been building since the inception of the project.
The tension has been building since the inception of the project.
I haven't seen such a display of talent for many a year.
I haven't seen such a display of talent for many a year.
She has been a pillar of the community since time immemorial.
She has been a pillar of the community since time immemorial.
The law has been in effect for the duration of the crisis.
The law has been in effect for the duration of the crisis.
The manuscript has lain untouched for what must be centuries.
The manuscript has lain untouched for what must be centuries.
Ever since the scandal broke, the senator has been under intense scrutiny.
Ever since the scandal broke, the senator has been under intense scrutiny.
I haven't so much as spoken to him in weeks.
I haven't so much as spoken to him in weeks.
The city has undergone a metamorphosis since the turn of the century.
The city has undergone a metamorphosis since the turn of the century.
間違えやすい
Learners use Past Simple for ongoing actions or Present Perfect for finished ones.
Both relate to time, but 'during' is used with nouns to say when something happened, not how long.
Learners use 'from' to mark a start point with the Present Perfect.
よくある間違い
I am here since Monday.
I have been here since Monday.
I have been here for 2010.
I have been here since 2010.
I have lived here since two years.
I have lived here for two years.
I have know him for a long time.
I have known him for a long time.
She has worked here since five months.
She has worked here for five months.
How long you have been here?
How long have you been here?
I haven't seen her since a long time.
I haven't seen her for a long time.
I have been knowing her since 2015.
I have known her since 2015.
I've been here since I have been a child.
I've been here since I was a child.
It's been raining for this morning.
It's been raining since this morning.
I haven't seen him for the last time we met.
I haven't seen him since the last time we met.
文型パターン
I have known ___ since ___.
She hasn't ___ for ___.
How long have you ___?
Real World Usage
I have worked in sales for over a decade.
I've had this cough since last Tuesday.
We've been together for three years.
I have been on hold for twenty minutes!
Living in NYC since 2015.
I have been in the country for two weeks.
期間と開始点
I have worked here for five years.
時制を混ぜないで！
I lived here for five years.
「今に至るまで」を意識して
I have been waiting for you for an hour.
もっと自然な英語に
状態動詞の例外
I have known her for years.のようにね（
I have been knowing herとは言わないよ）。
Smart Tips
Stop! If you arrived 2 days ago and are still here, you must use 'I have been'.
Use 'for'. Numbers usually indicate a duration.
Swap 'for' for 'in'.
Always put that verb in the Past Simple.
発音
Contraction of 'have'
In natural speech, 'have' is almost always contracted to /v/ after pronouns.
Weak form of 'for'
The word 'for' is usually pronounced with a schwa /fə/ unless it is stressed.
Emphasis on duration
I've been waiting for ↘️HOURS.
Conveys frustration or surprise at the length of time.
暗記しよう
記憶術
FOR is for the length of the floor (duration); SINCE is for the start of the fence (point).
視覚的連想
Imagine 'FOR' as a ruler measuring a piece of string. Imagine 'SINCE' as a push-pin on a calendar marking the exact day you started.
Rhyme
For is for a length of time, Since is for the starting line.
Story
A traveler has been walking 'for' ten days. He hasn't seen a city 'since' he left the mountains. He measures his journey in days (for) but remembers his departure (since).
Word Web
チャレンジ
Write three sentences about your life: one using 'for', one using 'since' with a year, and one using 'since' with a past event (e.g., 'since I was a child').
文化メモ
British speakers are very strict about using the Present Perfect with 'for' and 'since'. Using the Past Simple instead (e.g., 'I didn't see him since Monday') sounds very incorrect to them.
While the Present Perfect is standard, in informal American speech, you might occasionally hear the Past Simple used with 'since', though it is technically non-standard.
Using 'for' and 'since' correctly is a marker of professional English proficiency. It is often tested in exams like IELTS or TOEFL because it shows a grasp of complex time relationships.
The Present Perfect evolved from Old English 'habban' (to have) + a past participle, originally meaning 'I possess a finished thing'. Over time, it shifted to describe the state resulting from that action.
会話のきっかけ
How long have you lived in your current city?
What is something you have owned since you were a child?
How long have you been studying English, and what has been the hardest part?
Have you known your best friend for a long time?
日記のテーマ
よくある間違い
Test Yourself
I haven't seen my best friend ___ last summer.
Last summer は特定の開始点なので、since を使います。Find and fix the mistake:
She works here for ten years.
for と現在完了形 (has worked) が必要です。Translate into English: 'Hemos vivido en esta ciudad desde 2015.'
Answer starts with: ["W...
Desde 2015 は開始点なので since 2015 になります。Hemos vivido は現在完了形です。Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
for で期間を表しています。Score: /4
練習問題
8 exercisesI have lived in this apartment ___ 2010.
They have been married ___ forty years.
Find and fix the mistake:
I am a teacher since three years.
I started working here in January. (I have...)
1. ___ ages, 2. ___ I was a child, 3. ___ a long time, 4. ___ last night
A: How long have you had that dog? B: I've had him ___.
We use 'since' with a period of time, like 'five days'.
Which ones go with 'For'?
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesThey haven't visited their grandparents ___ Christmas.
How long ___ you been learning French?
We know him since 2010.
I haven't eaten for I woke up.
Choose the correct sentence:
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: 'Él ha estado esperando el autobús durante veinte minutos.'
Translate into English: 'No he comido chocolate desde que era niño.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match each time expression with the correct word:
Match the beginnings with the correct endings:
Score: /12
よくある質問 (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 do.
No, 'since' is almost exclusively used with the Present Perfect (or Past Perfect) in English to show a connection to a later time.
It is always `for a long time`. 'A long time' is a duration, not a specific point.
`For` tells you how long (duration). `During` tells you when (within a named event). Example: 'I slept for two hours during the flight.'
Technically yes, but it is much more natural to say `for five years`. 'Since' is better with dates or events.
Yes, for this specific rule of duration, the Present Perfect `have/has + past participle` is required.
Yes! `Ever since` is a common way to emphasize that something has been true from a specific point until now. 'I've loved pizza ever since I was a kid.'
In negative sentences, `in` is a common and natural substitute for `for` in informal English.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Presente + hace / desde
Spanish uses present tense; English uses present perfect.
Présent + depuis
French uses present tense for ongoing actions.
Präsens + seit
German uses one word (seit) for both points and durations.
~te iru + kara/aida
Japanese relies on aspect markers rather than a specific perfect tense.
Mudari' (Present) + mundhu
Arabic uses the present tense where English uses the perfect.
Verb + le + duration
Chinese uses aspect particles and word order instead of prepositions.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Learn These First
Continue With
関連動画
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