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Usage of Prepositions: FOR vs SINCE (With Practice)

Prepositions are small words, but they play a very important role in English. Two such prepositions—for and since—are often confusing for learners. Both are used to talk about time, but their usage is different.

This lesson explains the difference in a simple way, followed by MCQs and worksheets for practice.

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1. FOR – Duration of Time

For is used to show how long an action continues.
It tells us the length or period of time.

Use for with:

• minutes, hours, days, months, years

• a long time, a short time

Examples:

• I have lived here for ten years.

• She has been sleeping for two hours.

• We waited for a long time.

👉 FOR answers the question: “How long?”

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2. SINCE – Starting Point of Time

Since is used to show when an action started.
It tells us the exact point in time.

Use since with:

• days and dates (Monday, 2020)

• time (morning, evening, 6 a.m.)

• events (childhood, marriage)

Examples:

• I have lived here since 2015.

• He has been ill since yesterday.

• She has worked here since Monday.

👉 SINCE answers the question: “From when?”

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3. FOR vs SINCE (Quick Comparison)

FOR	SINCE
for two hours	since 8 a.m.
for five years	since 2019
for a long time	since childhood

Important Note:
For and since are usually used with the present perfect tense
(have / has + verb).

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MCQs (Choose the Correct Answer)

1. I have known him ___ 2010.
a) for
b) since
c) from

2. She has been waiting ___ two hours.
a) since
b) from
c) for

3. We have lived in this house ___ many years.
a) since
b) for
c) at

4. He has not eaten anything ___ morning.
a) for
b) since
c) during

5. They have worked here ___ a long time.
a) since
b) for
c) on

MCQ Answers:

1. b) since

2. c) for

3. b) for

4. b) since

5. b) for

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Worksheet – Practice Section

A. Fill in the blanks with for or since

1. I have been feeling tired ___ yesterday.

2. She has lived alone ___ five years.

3. We have not met ___ last Sunday.

4. He has been studying English ___ a long time.

5. The shop has been closed ___ morning.

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B. Rewrite the sentences correctly

1. I am waiting here since two hours.

2. She is living here for 2018.

3. He works in this office since ten years.

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C. Identify the Usage

Write D for Duration or S for Starting Point.

1. since 2012 ( ___ )

2. for three months ( ___ )

3. since childhood ( ___ )

4. for a few minutes ( ___ )

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Worksheet Answers

A.

1. since

2. for

3. since

4. for

5. since

B.

1. I have been waiting here for two hours.

2. She has been living here since 2018.

3. He has been working in this office for ten years.

C.

1. S

2. D

3. S

4. D

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Conclusion

Remember this simple rule:

• FOR → duration (how long)

• SINCE → starting point (from when)

With regular practice, your usage will become natural and confident.