Present Perfect
Lesson 4 of 7 · ~6 minutes

Lesson 4 · Present Perfect

for / since

for / since

for — how long it lasts: two years, three days, a week. since — from what point in time: Monday, 2020, six o'clock. The verb is the same: have / has and the past participle.

What

how long
since when
a clock time

Word

for two years
since Monday
since six o'clock

Example

I have lived here for two years
We have worked here since Monday
Anna has been here since six o'clock
What
Word
Example
how long
for two years
I have lived here for two years
since when
since Monday
We have worked here since Monday
a clock time
since six o'clock
Anna has been here since six o'clock

I have lived in this flat for two years.

We have worked at the shop since Monday.

Anna has been at the office since six o'clock.

They have been at the park for an hour.

Where people usually slip

Two common mistakes.

For something that started in the past and is still true, it's tempting to use the present simple, but you need the form with have: not I live here since 2020, but I have lived here since 2020.

since is a starting point, not a length of time. Not since three years, but for three years.

  • how longI have lived in this flat for two years.
  • since whenWe have worked at the shop since Monday.
  • not since + periodfor three years, not since three years
  • not I live sinceI have lived, not I live here since
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