Home

Lessons:
  
Grammar
  
Reading
  
Vocabulary
  
Listening
  
Pronunciation
  
Writing
  
Etc.

Q&A

Should I Study Abroad?

Listen to Books in English

ESL Schools

Articles

Search

Buy ESL Books

ESL Links

About Us

Copyright Notice

American Accent Workshop

Get English, English English Today

Secret List of Teaching Jobs in Japan

Become a Personal ESL Trainer

WhiteSmoke - Write like an English Expert!

Advertise Here

 

 

 

5 Minute English

 

 

Using Since and For

Use since + (a specific time) like March 31, or 9:19 a.m., or Tuesday.

Examples:
I have been studying English since 1993.
John has helped me since 10:00 this morning.
Those people have been in Europe since August.


Note:  Because we are talking about a time in the past until now, we have to use have/has + past participle when we use since.

******

Use for + (a length of time) like 1 day, or 3 hours, or 5 years.

Examples:
I have been studying English for 4 years.
John has helped me for 8 hours.
Those people went to Europe for 2 months.

Note:  It is possible to use the past tense when you use for if the action is finished.

 

 

 

Check Your Understanding

Choose the correct answer.  Check your answers below.


1.  Leslie has lived here ten years.

2.  I haven't seen you last March.

3.  We sat and talked 30 minutes.

4.  Young-eun studied French nine years.

5.  Caroline has been learning Spanish March 1999.

6.  We haven't had an earthquake 23 years.

7.  I haven't heard from you Saturday.

8.  Molly hasn't eaten 7:00 this morning.

9.  He played basketball over 20 years.

10. Andre hasn't seen Becky yesterday.
 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
   

5 Minute English (www.5minuteenglish.com)
Copyright © 2003-2005 Oakseed Enterprises.  All rights reserved.