Present Perfect: For vs. Since (Duração e Ponto de Partida)
timelines claras. É um divisor de águas!
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.
Overview
Present Perfect em conjunto com for e since é um daqueles momentos em que a gramática inglesa exige uma mudança de perspectiva mental para nós, falantes de português. Em português, quando queremos dizer que algo começou no passado e continua no presente, usamos o presente simples: Eu moro aqui há cinco anos. Note que, em português, usamos o verbo no presente e o termo «há» para indicar duração.
Present Perfect (I have lived here...). O for e o since são as ferramentas que usamos para medir esse tempo que conecta o passado ao presente. Se você ignorar essa estrutura e tentar traduzir literalmente Eu moro aqui por cinco anosusando o presente simples (
I live here for five years), um falante nativo vai entender que você mora aqui por um período, mas que provavelmente vai se mudar em breve, ou que a frase está gramaticalmente incompleta.Present Perfect com for e since é essencial para indicar continuidade, algo que é muito comum no nosso dia a dia, seja contando para um amigo quanto tempo você está esperando o Uber ou explicando para o seu chefe há quanto tempo você trabalha em um projeto. Dominar isso é o que separa um nível básico de um nível intermediário (B1), onde a precisão temporal começa a fazer diferença na fluidez da sua fala.for é usado para medir a duração total, ou seja, a quantidade de tempo. Em português, o equivalente funcional seria o nosso por ou durante, mas lembre-se: no Present Perfect, o inglês exige a estrutura de tempo que atravessa o passado até o agora.since, por sua vez, marca o ponto de partida. Em português, usamos desde.for | «há» ou por |since | desde |I have worked here for six months, você está enfatizando o bloco de tempo (seis meses). Quando diz I have worked here since January, você está apontando para o marco inicial (janeiro). É como se o for fosse uma fita métrica que mede o tamanho da ação, enquanto o since fosse um alfinete fincado no calendário.Present Perfect faz esse papel de tempo decorrido automaticamente quando acompanhado de for ou since. Se você disser Eu trabalho aqui há dois anos, o «há» já indica que começou no passado e continua. Em inglês, o
have/has + past participle é o que carrega essa responsabilidade.for ou since para ações contínuas; o Present Perfect é obrigatório.have ou has (para he/she/it) + o particípio do verbo.have | lived | for | two years |has | studied | since | 2020 |I have waited for this delivery for 30 minutes.(A espera dura 30 minutos).She has been in this office since 8 AM.(O ponto de partida foi às 8 da manhã).We have known each other for a long time.(A duração é longa).They have lived in São Paulo since they were kids.(O ponto de partida é um evento passado).
- 1Estados permanentes ou longos:
Estou no iFood há três anos
se tornaI have worked at iFood for three years. O uso doforaqui é para quantificar a experiência. - 2Pontos de mudança na vida:
Não vejo minha família desde o Natal
viraI haven't seen my family since Christmas. Osinceconecta o seunão verao ponto específico no tempo (Natal). - 3Situações de trabalho ou estudos:
Estudo inglês desde 2021
éI have studied English since 2021.
I have lived in Rio for 10 years, você ainda mora lá. Se você disser I lived in Rio for 10 years, você não mora mais lá. Essa é a diferença crucial que o Present Perfect traz.- 1A armadilha do Presente Simples: Brasileiros tendem a dizer
I live here for 5 yearsporque em português dizemosEu moro aqui há 5 anos
. O erro ocorre porque o «há» em português é um verbo impessoal que não conjuga, enquanto o inglês exige o tempo verbal composto. Lembre-se: se continua, usehave/has. - 2Confundir
forcomsince: Isso acontece muito. O aluno pensapor quanto tempoe acaba usandosinceporque soa mais sofisticado. Regra de ouro:for= período (duração),since= momento exato (data, hora, evento). - 3Uso do
agocomPresent Perfect: É muito comum ouvirI have been here for two years ago. Isso é um erro grave de L1, pois tentamos traduzir oatrásdo português. Oagoé usado apenas com o passado simples (I came here two years ago). Com oPresent Perfect, use apenasforousince.
Present Perfect + for/since | Ação que começou no passado e continua. | I have waited for an hour. |Simple Past | Ação que começou e terminou no passado. | I waited for an hour yesterday. |Present Continuous | Ação acontecendo AGORA. | I am waiting right now. |Present Perfect com for e since é o meio termo: não é algo que acabou (passado) nem algo que só acontece neste segundo (contínuo), é algo que se estende através do tempo até o agora.- 1Posso usar
sincecom duração? Não.Sincesempre pede um ponto específico (ex:since Monday,since 1999,since I was born). Se você quer falar de duração, usefor. - 2Como saber se a ação ainda continua? Se você usa
forousincecom oPresent Perfect, a regra gramatical dita que a ação ainda possui relevância ou continuidade no presente. Se a ação acabou, use o passado simples. - 3Existe diferença entre
I have livedeI have been living? Comforesince, a diferença é mínima em termos de significado. OPresent Perfect Continuous(have been living) enfatiza um pouco mais a duração e o aspecto contínuo da ação, mas ambos são aceitos.
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.
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.”
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.”
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
| Preposição | Função | É seguido por | Exemplo |
|---|---|---|---|
|
for
|
Duração (por quanto tempo?)
|
Período de tempo
|
I have lived here for 5 years.
|
|
since
|
Ponto de partida (quando começou?)
|
Ponto específico no tempo
|
She has studied since 2020.
|
|
for
|
Período de uma ação
|
Quantidade de tempo
|
We've been waiting for an hour.
|
|
since
|
Origem de uma ação
|
Evento ou data específica
|
He hasn't called since Monday.
|
|
for
|
Tempo total gasto
|
Número + unidade de tempo
|
They have worked on it for weeks.
|
|
since
|
Desse momento até agora
|
Orações no 'Past Simple' / Ano
|
I've known him since we were kids.
|
Espectro de formalidade
I have been a resident of this city for over a decade. (residency)
I've lived here for ten years. (residency)
I've been here for ages. (residency)
I've been repping this city since forever. (residency)
Present Perfect: For vs. Since
Usando FOR (Duração)
- Quanto tempo? Foco na duração do tempo
- Período de tempo ex: 'three years', 'a long time'
- Contínuo Ação ainda está acontecendo
- Contagem Medindo o período de tempo
Usando SINCE (Ponto de Partida)
- Quando começou? Foco no momento inicial
- Ponto no tempo ex: '2020', 'last Tuesday'
- Até agora Desse ponto até o presente
- Marcando Identificando o início em uma linha do tempo
Contextos Comuns
- Experiência Há quanto tempo você tem uma experiência
- Situações Estados ou empregos contínuos
- Perguntas Frequentemente com 'How long...?'
- Notícias Reportando duração de eventos
For vs. Since: Lado a Lado
Escolhendo For ou Since com Present Perfect
A frase é sobre uma ação ou estado que começou no passado e ainda está acontecendo ou é relevante agora?
Você está falando sobre uma DURAÇÃO DE TEMPO (ex: duas horas, cinco dias, uma década)?
Você está falando sobre um MOMENTO DE INÍCIO ESPECÍFICO (ex: 2020, última segunda-feira, eu era criança)?
Expressões de Tempo com For e Since
Com FOR
- • two hours
- • a week
- • six months
- • many years
- • a long time
- • ages
Com SINCE
- • 2020
- • last Monday
- • I was born
- • the accident
- • this morning
- • he left
Exemplos por nível
I have been here for two hours.
She has been happy since Monday.
We have had this car for a week.
He has been a student since 2023.
They have lived in this house for ten years.
I haven't seen him since last night.
Has it rained since Friday?
She has worked at the bank for six months.
I've known my best friend since we were in primary school.
He hasn't eaten meat for a very long time.
We've been waiting for the bus for over forty minutes.
How long has she been interested in photography?
The company has been expanding its reach since the new CEO took over.
I've been meaning to call you for ages, but I've been so busy.
Prices have been rising steadily since the beginning of the year.
He's been playing the piano for most of his life.
Since the inception of the project, we have encountered numerous hurdles.
The policy has been in place for what seems like an eternity.
I haven't felt this energized since I was in my early twenties.
They have been living under a cloud of suspicion for several months now.
The landscape has undergone a radical transformation since the industrial era began.
For all the time I've spent researching, I've yet to find a definitive answer.
Since having been granted autonomy, the department has flourished.
The tradition has been upheld for generations, since time immemorial.
Fácil de confundir
Learners use Past Simple for ongoing actions or Present Perfect for finished ones.
Both relate to time, but 'during' is used with a noun to say *when* something happened, not *how long*.
Learners use 'from' to indicate a starting point with Present Perfect.
Erros comuns
I am here for two days.
I have been here for two days.
I have been here since two hours.
I have been here for two hours.
She has work here since 2010.
She has worked here since 2010.
I have lived here since a long time.
I have lived here for a long time.
I've been here since I was borned.
I've been here since I was born.
He has since Monday been sick.
He has been sick since Monday.
We have known us for years.
We have known each other for years.
I've been knowing him for years.
I've known him for years.
It's been a long time since I don't see him.
It's been a long time since I saw him.
I have lived here since five years ago.
I have lived here for five years.
Since two years, I have been working here.
For two years, I have been working here.
I have for many years sought the truth.
I have sought the truth for many years.
Padrões de frases
I have been ___ for ___.
She has known ___ since ___.
It has been ___ since ___.
How long have you ___?
Real World Usage
I have worked in sales for over six years.
I've had this pain since yesterday morning.
I've lived in this neighborhood since I was a kid.
I've been waiting for a refund for two weeks.
Software engineer since 2015.
Married to my best friend since '18.
Teste Mental: 'For' vs. 'Since'
vs. I've been waiting since 2 PM."Cuidado com os Tempos Verbais!
I have lived here for five years.(Correto) não
I lived here for five years.(Incorreto se ainda mora lá).
Use sua Própria História!
Diferenças Regionais (Bem Leves)
(Informal, mas comum) vs.I haven't seen you for ages." (Padrão).
Use com Perguntas
How long have you been studying English?(Há quanto tempo você estuda inglês?)
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'.
Always put the verb after 'since' in the Past Simple.
Start your answer with 'For...' or 'Since...' to immediately give the listener the time context they need.
Use 'Since [Year]' to show your start date at a company. It looks professional and clear.
Pronúncia
Contraction Stress
In 'I've been', the 've' is almost silent. The stress is on 'been'.
Since vs. Sins
The 'ce' in 'since' is a sharp 's' sound. Do not pronounce it like 'z'.
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.
Memorize
Mnemônico
FOR is for the 'Four' (length) of the journey; SINCE is for the 'Start' of the story.
Associação visual
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
Desafio
Look at your watch. Write one sentence with 'for' and one with 'since' about how long you have been studying today.
Notas culturais
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).
Iniciadores de conversa
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?
Temas para diário
Erros comuns
Test Yourself
I haven't visited my grandparents ___ Christmas.
Find and fix the mistake:
They have been living here since five years.
Escolha a frase correta:
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
Score: /4
Exercicios praticos
8 exercisesI have been a teacher ___ 2010.
They have lived in Paris ___ three months.
Find and fix the mistake:
I am knowing him for five years.
I moved here in January. (I have lived...)
1. ___ a long time / 2. ___ I was young / 3. ___ ten o'clock
A: How long have you had that cold? B: ___
Select the grammatically perfect sentence.
We use 'since' with a period of time like 'six weeks'.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesMy phone hasn't stopped ringing ___ I posted that viral video.
I haven't eaten a decent meal for last week.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: 'Llevo estudiando español desde hace un año.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the phrases with `for` or `since`:
How long have you been waiting ___ the bus?
The store is closed since three days.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: 'No he hablado con ella desde que se mudó.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the expressions with `for` or `since`:
Score: /12
Perguntas frequentes (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
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
desde / hace
English requires the Present Perfect, not the Present Simple.
depuis
English distinguishes between 'for' and 'since' and requires a different verb tense.
seit
English uses two different words (for/since) and the Present Perfect.
kara / aida
Japanese doesn't have a direct 'Present Perfect' equivalent in the same way English does.
mundhu (منذ)
English requires a specific choice between two prepositions.
le (了) / yijing (已经)
Chinese has no verb conjugation for tense, making the 'have + V3' structure very difficult for learners.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Vídeos relacionados
09:35 Ancient Life as Old as the Universe
04:31 Supreme Court BANS Faithless Electors…………?
08:05 Is This The Biggest Mistake Science Ever Made?
Learn English Tenses: The Present Perfect
Learn English with Bob the Canadian
Master All 4 Present Tenses in 10 Min | English Grammar Lesson | Best Way To Learn English Tenses
Learn English | Let's Talk - Free English Lessons
Related Grammar Rules
Present Perfect: EUA vs Reino Unido (I've done vs I did)
Overview Já sentiu que seu livro de inglês mentiu para você? Você aprende uma regra e depois ouve um vlogger da Califór...
Phrasal Verbs: An Introduction (Turn On, Give Up, Look After)
## Phrasal Verbs: An Introduction A **phrasal verb** = verb + particle (up, on, off, out, in, away...) The combination...
Experiências de Vida: Present Perfect com Ever e Never
### Overview Falar sobre nossas experiências de vida é uma das partes mais ricas de qualquer conversa, seja em um encon...
Futuro Contínuo (will be -ing)
### Overview O `Future Continuous`, também chamado de `Future Progressive`, é um tempo verbal essencial para quem busca...
Present Perfect em Inglês: Conectando o Passado ao Agora (Formação Básica)
Overview Você já entrou em um cômodo e esqueceu completamente por que foi até lá? Todos nós já passamos por isso. Essa s...
