How to express time duration in English

If you are not sure how to express time duration in English using ‘since’ and ‘for,’ this article will clarify some of your doubts. However, you must read and practice to familiarise yourself with these expressions.

The meaning of ‘Since’ and ‘For’

‘Since’ means from a specific date or moment: day, month, year, or period of the year (summer, winter, last year).

‘For’ indicates a duration or continuity in time.

Pronunciation

‘Since’ is pronounced like ‘sins’ with a short ‘i’ sound and not ‘seens’, as some beginners say.

‘For’ usually does not present pronunciation problems, but to be consistent, pay attention to the accent with which you pronounce it.

When to Use Them

‘Since’ and ‘for’ are usually associated with the Present Perfect: Have/has + past participle of the verb. However, it is possible to use them with other tenses.

Examples

‘I have lived in Madrid since 2002.’ – I have lived in Madrid since 2002. 2002 is a specific date, so we use the word ‘since’.
‘I have lived in Madrid for five years.’ – I have lived in Madrid for five years.

Some Difficulties in Using ‘Since’ and ‘For’

The structure of the ‘Present Perfect’ – ‘I have lived here for ten years.’ and the ‘Present Perfect Continuous’ – ‘I have been living here for ten years.’
Problems with the literal translation from your language to English.
Translating literally from your language without understanding the difference between ‘since’ and ‘for.’
To avoid confusion, remember to practice both the expression in English and its translation into your language.

More Examples of ‘Since’ and ‘For’

‘She has been married since 1998.’ – She has been married since 1998.
‘Since she came here, I’ve been very nervous.’ – Since she came here, I’ve been very nervous.
‘He has been married for ten years.’ – He has been married for ten years.
‘I have been working since 10 o’clock.’ – I have been working since 10 o’clock.
‘I have been studying English for ten years.’ – I have been studying English for ten years.

Examples

‘I haven’t seen you for a long time.’ – I haven’t seen you for a long time. Note: I can’t say ‘I haven’t been seeing you…’ because the verb ‘see’ is NOT usually used with ‘ing.’ – Therefore, the sentence has to be in the ‘Present Perfect’ and not in the ‘Present Perfect Continuous.’
‘My dog hasn’t been eating for two days.’ – My dog hasn’t been eating for two days.
‘I’ve been working in this company for 10 years.’ – I’ve been working in this company for 10 years.