Present perfect with for and since
Talk about situations that started in the past and continue now, with for (a period) and since (a starting point).
In this lesson you will
- Use the present perfect for unfinished situations
- Choose for or since
- Ask How long…?
Learn
Use the present perfect for a situation that began in the past and is still true now: I’ve lived here for six years (I still live here). Compare the past simple: I lived there for six years (I don’t now).
for + a period of time: for two weeks, for ages, for a long time. since + a point in time: since 2019, since Monday, since I was a child, since I left school.
Ask How long have you…? — How long have you known each other? — Since university.
With state verbs (know, be, have, like) use the simple form: I’ve known her for years (not I’ve been knowing).
| for (a period) | since (a starting point) |
|---|---|
| for ten minutes | since 9 o’clock |
| for three years | since 2022 |
| for a long time | since I was a teenager |
Examples
- She’s worked at the hospital since 2018.
- We’ve been friends for over twenty years.
- How long have you had your car?
- I haven’t seen him since the summer.
Vocabulary
for ages
for a very long time (informal)
since then
from that time until now
recently
not long ago
so far
until now
“So far, so good.”
lately
recently
Practice
I’ve had this phone ___ two years.
Speaking
Talk about five things in your life that started in the past and continue now: where you live, your job or studies, a friendship, a hobby, something you own.
Writing
Write a short profile of someone you know well (60–80 words) using for, since and How long.
Lesson quiz
She’s been ill ___ Monday.
Review
Key points
- Present perfect = past to now.
- for + period; since + point.
- How long have you…?
- State verbs stay simple.
What you learned
- ✓ I can talk about unfinished situations.
- ✓ I can choose for or since.
- ✓ I can ask How long…?
Grammar reference: Present perfect