40 questions to master for and since with the Present Perfect Continuous, including duration questions, time expressions, and How long sentences.
Set:
Exercise 1. for or since?
Choose for or since. For measures a stretch of time (for 20 minutes, for two weeks). Since names the moment the stretch began (since 9 a.m., since Monday, since 2020).
Set:
1
I've been waiting outside the cinema ___ 20 minutes.
2
She has been working at the agency ___ 2018.
3
My flatmates have been arguing about the bills ___ three hours.
4
He has been revising for his driving test ___ nine this morning.
5
We've been renting the same flat in Madrid ___ five years.
6
It has been raining non-stop ___ Tuesday.
7
She has been off work with the flu ___ a week.
8
I've been playing the guitar ___ I was eleven.
9
He's been running around the lake ___ half an hour.
10
Marta and I have been friends ___ primary school.
for: a period of time
I / She / Theyhave/has been + -ingforduration.
I've been waiting for 20 minutes.
She has been working here for three years.
They've been living together for ages.
since: a point in time
I / She / Theyhave/has been + -ingsincepoint in time.
I've been waiting since 9 o'clock.
She has been working here since 2018.
They've been living together since last year.
for vs since: the comparison
for + duration
since + point in time
for 20 minutes
since 9 o'clock
for three days
since Monday
for two weeks
since last Tuesday
for a year
since 2023
for ages / a long time
since I was a child
for the past few months
since she started working here
★ Quick test: Can you replace it with "a length of time"? → use for. Can you replace it with "starting at that moment"? → use since.
How long…? questions
How longhave / hassubjectbeenverb + -ing?
How long have you been studying English?
How long has she been working at that company?
How long has it been raining?
Short answers use for or since:
"How long have you been waiting?" A: "For an hour." / "Since noon."
"How long has he been ill?" A: "For a week." / "Since last Monday."
Common time expressions
with for
for 20 minutesfor two hoursfor three daysfor a weekfor several monthsfor a yearfor agesfor a long timefor the past few weeks
with since
since 9 o'clocksince Mondaysince last Tuesdaysince Januarysince 2020since this morningsince I was a childsince she leftsince the meeting