Ampersand Lab

Intermediate grammar · Lesson 12 · B1

for and since when ... ? and how long ... ?

For takes a length of time and since takes a starting point; when ... ? goes with the past simple and how long ... ? with the present perfect.

Start the lesson

16Steps · about 28 minutes

In this lesson

for and sinceA4 screens of questions
Leaving out for; in; allB1 screen of questions
when ... ? and how long ... ?C1 screen of questions
It's a long time since ...D4 screens of questions

Point A of 4

for and since

Both say how long something has been happening.

for + a period of time: for two hours, for a week, for twenty minutes, for ages, for five days, for six months, for fifty years.

since + the start of the period: since eight o'clock, since lunchtime, since Monday, since April, since 3 May 2004, since Christmas, since we arrived, since I got up.

The test is simple. If you can count it, use for. If you can point at it on a calendar or a clock, use since.

  • We've been queuing for two hours.
  • We've been queuing since eight o'clock.
  • Abi has been working at the bakery for six months. (not since six months)
  • Abi has been working at the bakery since April.
  • I haven't spoken to my brother for three weeks.
  • I haven't spoken to my brother since Boxing Day.

Point A · Exercise 12.1 · part 1 of 2

Write for or since.

  1. Example

    It's been foggy since breakfast.

    AnswerIt's been foggy since breakfast.

  2. My uncle has lived in New Zealand twenty years.

  3. I'm fed up with waiting. We've been stood here forty minutes.

  4. Tyler has been looking for a flat he moved back from London.

  5. I haven't been to a wedding years.

Point A · Exercise 12.1 · part 2 of 2

Write for or since.

  1. I wonder where Kate has got to. I haven't seen her Thursday.

  2. Josh is in Cornwall on holiday. He's been away the weekend.

  3. The garden is parched. It hasn't rained a fortnight.

Point A · Exercise 12.3 · part 1 of 2

Read the situation and complete the second sentence so that it says the same thing.

  1. Example

    It's snowing. It started snowing at teatime. It's been snowing since teatime.

    AnswerIt's snowing. It started snowing at teatime. It's been snowing since teatime.

  2. Bella and Ruth met at college fifteen years ago. They've been friends .

  3. Liam is ill. He became ill on Tuesday. He has .

  4. Mia is married. She's been married for eight months. She got .

  5. You have a stiff neck. It started when you got up. I've .

Point A · Exercise 12.3 · part 2 of 2

Read the situation and complete the second sentence so that it says the same thing.

  1. The quiz is on in the pub. It's been going on since eight o'clock. The quiz .

  2. You work in a garden centre. You started working there three months ago. I've been .

  3. Noah is learning the bagpipes. He's been doing it for a long time, much to the neighbours' regret. Noah started .

Point B of 4

Leaving out for; in; all

We often leave out for, though not usually in negative sentences.

In negative sentences you can use in instead of for.

Do not use for with all: all day, all week, all my life.

  • They've been together for twelve years.
  • They've been together twelve years.
  • They haven't had a night out for months. (you need for here)
  • They haven't had a night out in months.
  • I've lived in this town my whole life. (not for my whole life)

Point B · Extra practice

Put in for or in. Where neither is needed, write all.

  1. We haven't had a holiday years.

  2. They've been together twelve years.

  3. I've lived in this town my life.

Point C of 4

when ... ? and how long ... ?

When ... ? asks for a point in the past, so it takes the past simple.

How long ... ? asks about a stretch that reaches the present, so it takes the present perfect.

  • When did the power go off? It went off an hour ago.
  • How long has the power been off? It's been off for an hour.
  • When did Jen and Mark first meet? They met at college.
  • How long have they been friends? They've been friends since college.

Point C · Extra practice

Put the verb in brackets into the past simple or the present perfect.

  1. When the power off? (go)

  2. How long the power off? (be)

  3. When you first Sam? (meet)

Point D of 4

It's a long time since ...

We say it's a long time since something happened, or it's been six months (and so on) since. Both mean the same as the negative with for.

  • It's three years since I last saw my cousin. (I haven't seen my cousin for three years)
  • It's been three years since I last saw my cousin.
  • It's ages since we had a takeaway. (we haven't had a takeaway for ages)
  • How long is it since your grandad retired?
  • How long has it been since your grandad retired?

Point D · Exercise 12.2 · part 1 of 2

Look at each answer and write the question that fits it.

  1. Example

    When did they get engaged? (How long have they been engaged? / When did they get engaged?) Two years ago.

    AnswerWhen did they get engaged? Two years ago.

  2. (How long have you had this bike? / When did you buy this bike?) About three years.

  3. (How long have you been waiting? / When did you get here?) At half past six.

  4. (How long have you been learning to drive? / When did you start learning to drive?) Since the summer.

  5. (How long has Marcus been in Bristol? / When did Marcus arrive in Bristol?) Last Tuesday.

Point D · Exercise 12.2 · part 2 of 2

Look at each answer and write the question that fits it.

  1. (How long have you been friends? / When did you first become friends?) Since we were six.

Point D · Exercise 12.4 · part 1 of 2

Complete B's answers. In 5 to 8, write the same answers again starting with It's ... since.

  1. Example

    A: Do you go camping much? B: No, I haven't been camping for four years.

    AnswerNo, I haven't been camping for four years.

  2. Example

    (1) No, it's four years since I last went camping.

    AnswerNo, it's four years since I last went camping.

  3. A: Have you seen Jordan lately? B: No, I about six weeks.

  4. A: Do you still go to the gym regularly? B: No, I ages.

  5. A: Do you still play the piano these days? B: No, I a long time.

  6. (2) No, it's .

Point D · Exercise 12.4 · part 2 of 2

Complete B's answers. In 5 to 8, write the same answers again starting with It's ... since.

  1. (3) No, it's .

  2. (4) No, it's .

Lesson 12 · Result

How you did

Next lesson: Present perfect and past 1 (I have done and I did)Back to the course

–Right

Each point

A. for and since–Not checkedB. Leaving out for; in; all–Not checkedC. when ... ? and how long ... ?–Not checkedD. It's a long time since ...–Not checked