Use of for and since in a sentence for each word

Предлоги since и for имеют несколько значений. Основное — указание на период действия. Часто они появляются в похожих контекстах: например, в Past Perfect. Но заменять друг друга они не могут: нужно запомнить правила их использования.

Среди предлогов времени в английском эти два слова занимают особое положение: они обозначают не само время действия, а отсылают к периоду. И делают это по-разному. For отражает собственно период, а since его начальную точку. Кроме того, указание на время — не единственное значение for и since, они встречаются и в других контекстах. Чтобы разобраться с этими двумя словами, посмотрим на значения каждого из предлогов с примерами.

Предлог for

Первый из предлогов for and since обозначает период, на протяжении которого длилось событие и имеет значение «в течение определенного времени»:

When he came to the office, I had already worked for two hours — Когда он пришел в офис, я уже проработал два часа.

This apartment has been empty for years — Эта квартира пустует годами.

We go to the seaside for two weeks every year — Каждый год мы уезжаем на море на две недели.

My brother will be in Spain for the next week — Мой брат будет в Испании в течение следующей недели.

Из этих примеров видно, что предлог for может употребляться с разными временами: прошедшим, настоящим и будущим. Наиболее характерное время с for в качестве периода действия — форма Perfect, хотя его использование не обязательно. Например, период может относиться к будущему времени (He’s going to Brazil for the winter — Он уезжает в Бразилию на зиму).

При этом указание на период действия не мешает использованию других маркеров времени, например, повторяемости действия, как в примере We go to the seaside for two weeks every year («Каждый год мы уезжаем на море на две недели»).

Когда мы говорим о том, сколько времени длится действие к настоящему моменту, предлог for употребляется с временем Present Perfect. В таких примерах нужно внимательно отличать, since или for должно использоваться.

Mr Taylor has known me for three years — Мистер Тэйлор знает меня на протяжении трех лет.

В разговорном стиле предлог for может опускаться. Часто он опускается с вопросом how long (сколько, в течение какого времени) и не используется перед словом all:

We’ve lived in this house (for) six weeks — Мы живем в этом доме шесть недель.

How long have you been waiting (for)? — Сколько ты уже ждешь?

I’ve had a headache all day — У меня весь день болит голова.

Предлог since

Предлог since указывает на период события по-другому: он передает, когда началось действие, служит его отправной точкой:

We’ve been waiting since six o’clock — Мы ждем с шести часов.

We’ve known your brother since January — Мы знаем твоего брата с января.

Здесь может возникнуть вопрос, в каком времени используется since. Если for употребляется с различными глагольными формами, то since служит явным маркером времен Perfect:

I’ve been working since six o’clock and I’m getting tired — Я работаю с шести часов и начинаю уставать.

Типично употребление предлога since в отрицательных предложениях, чтобы подчеркнуть, когда в последний раз происходила ситуация:

We haven’t seen Jimmy since Christmas — Мы не видели Джимми с Рождества.

Предлог since может заменяться на предлог from с временами перфекта, когда необходимо подчеркнуть значение «начиная с этого времени»:

She’s been like that from (since) her childhood — Она такая с самого детства.

Хотя более типичное употребление from — с неперфектными временами. Предлог since в таких случаях использоваться не может.

This vase dates from the 17th century — Эта ваза датируется 17-м веком.

Правило since / for во временах Perfect

Итак, оба варианта предлогов используются с временами Perfect. Они оба указывают, сколько длится действие, но обозначают период по-разному. Предлог for служит для того, чтобы передать саму длительность, а since указывает только на начальную точку.

Сравните предложения:

I’ve known her for six months — Я знаком с ней шесть месяцев.

I’ve known her since last summer — Я знаком с ней с прошлого лета.

She’s been working here for a long time — Она работает здесь давно (длительное время).

She’s been working here since July — Она работает здесь с июля.

Правило since or for определяется не глаголом в предложении, а указанием на время, которое следует за предлогом. Если оно обозначает точку на шкале времени (last winter, July), то используется since. Если же за предлогом следует описание отрезка времени (six months, a long time), употребляется for.

Другие случаи употребления

Слово since в английском языке может выступать и в качестве предлога, и в качестве союза. То есть за ним может следовать не только существительное, обозначающее начало действия, но и придаточное предложение. Значение начала события при этом сохраняется: союз since переводится «с тех пор как».

I’ve known her since we were at college — Я знаю ее с тех пор, как мы учились в колледже.

You’ve drunk four cups of coffee since you came home — Ты выпил четыре чашки кофе, (с того момента) как пришел домой.

Хотя since может иметь и другие значения. Например, союз since может обозначать причину:

Since he had not paid the bill, the electricity was cut off — Поскольку он не оплатил счет, электричество отключили.

Когда мы говорим о союзах, появляется принципиальное различие между since и for: союз for не может обозначать период времени. Значение союза for — указание на причину:

There won’t be any delay, for all the differences are resolved — Задержек не возникнет, поскольку все разногласия устранены.

У слов for and since существуют и другие значения. Например, предлог for может обозначать цель и предназначение (to stop for a photo — остановиться, чтобы сделать фото) или причину (for many reasons — по многим причинам). Но основная сложность в употреблении for / since возникает с временем Perfect. Чтобы не путать их, нужно хорошо запомнить правило since or for.

Предлоги for и since – это предлоги времени. Они выражают длительность действия или ситуации. Разница между ними четкая, но многие почему-то путают эти предлоги. Не беда, ознакомившись с примерами и выполнив упражнения, вы разберетесь!

Как используются for и since?

Например:

Paulin: How long have you lived in Austria?

Jennny: I have lived here for two years.

Nickolas: How long have you worked downtown?

Ken: I have worked there since 2008.

Паулина: Как давно вы живете в Австрии?

Дженни: Я прожила здесь два года.

Николас: Как давно вы работаете в деловом районе?

Кен: Я работаю там с 2008 года.

Как вы уже поняли, for переводится как на протяжении, в течение, а since – с (какого времени), с момента

  • For + промежуток времени
  • Since + отправная точка

for since предлоги времени

For eight hours – на протяжении восьми часов

Since Monday – с понедельника

For two days – в течение двух дней

Since birth  — с рождения

For many years – на протяжении многих лет

Since his arrivаl – с момента его приезда

Чаще всего предлоги for и since употребляются с временами Present Perfect и Present Perfect Continuous.

I have been running for 2 hours. – Я бегу уже два часа. (Present Perfect Continuous)

I have not seen you since college. – Я не видела тебя со времен колледжа. (Present Perfect)

Since употребляется в случае, если отправной точкой служит не момент времени, а другое действие.

It’s ages since I met you. – Прошло много лет с тех пор, как мы встретились.

Перед тем, как приступить к упражнениям, резюмирует разницу между for и since.

  • For – в течении, на протяжении + промежуток времени;
  • Since  — с, с момента + отправная точка (время или действие)

Упражнения for и since. Since / for exercises.

Упражнение 1. Add since or for.

________ Sunday

________ five days

________ two years

________1990

________ March

________ four months

________ last week

________ six weeks

________ ten minutes

________ ten o’clock

 Упражнение 2. What is Katrin saying? Add for ago, or since.

I’m Australian. I was born in Canberra. I lived in Canberra (1) _______ sixteen years. Then my family moved to Melbourne. I lived there (2) ________  two years. Then I moved to Sydney. I’ve lived there (3) _______ 1990. I work for a travel agency. I started working there a year (4) ______. I’m married to Jack. We got married three years (5) _______. We have a house in Sydney. We’ve had the house (6) ______ two years.

Упражнение 3. Вставьте since или for.

  1. Meredith has lived here _________ 1997.
  2. Meredith has lived here _________ eighteen years.
  3. John has had the ball_________ last July.
  4. He has had the ball _________ eight months.
  5. Molly has liked fairy-tales _________ she was a tiny baby.
  6. Steven has been a worker_________ he left school
  7. We have had three tests _________ Tuesday.
  8. The couple have stayed here _________ three days.
  9. I have had my player _________ ten weeks.
  10. Molly has had the player_________ Christmas.

Ответы

Exercise 1.

since Sunday

for five days

for two years

since 1990

since March

for four months

since last week

for six weeks

for ten minutes

since ten o’clock

Exercise 2.

1 for, 2 for, 3 since, 4 ago, 5 ago, 6 for

Exercise 3.

1 since, 2 for, 3 since, 4 for, 5 since, 6 since, 7 since, 8 for, 9 for, 10 since

Еще несколько упражнений на since и for Вы можете найти в статье упражнения на Present Perfect.

Надеюсь, Вы поняли, в чем разница между for и since и научились правильно употреблять эти предлоги времени.

Понравилось? Сохраните на будущее и поделитесь с друзьями!

FOR or SINCE?

Look at these two sentences.

  • I have been living in Spain for 6 years.
  • I have been living in Spain since 2012.

Why did we use FOR in the first sentence and SINCE in the second sentence?

For and Since are prepositions.
Let’s look at the difference between these two words.

FOR vs. SINCE timeline with example sentences to show the difference.

Now we are in 2018.
I first arrived in Spain in 2012.
2012 is the starting point.

We use SINCE with the starting point of when something happens and that continues until now.

I continue to live in Spain now so we say:

  • I have been living in Spain SINCE 2012.

Since gives the starting point of actions or events and refers to when things began.

Since + a point in time (in the past)
Since + starting point

Now, what is the period of time between 2012 and 2018?
It is a period of 6 years.
The duration of time I have been in Spain is 6 years.

So I can say…. I have been living in Spain FOR six years.

We use FOR with a duration of time.

So let’s look at the two sentences again…

  • I have been living in Spain for 6 years.

(FOR is used because we are giving the duration of time)

  • I have been living in Spain since 2012.

(SINCE is used because we are giving a starting point of time in the past)

FOR

FOR is used with a period of time.
This is often a number plus a time word.

FOR is used when we measure the DURATION of something or how long it lasts.
It has a start point and an end point and can be used in different tenses.

Here are some example sentences:

  • I studied English in Ireland for two years.
    (This talks about a duration of two years and is in the past tense)
  • I will be there for around two months.
    (This is in the future tense)
  • We have been married for 16 years.
    (This is in the present perfect tense)

SINCE

SINCE is used with a starting point or a time or date.
It refers to something that started in the past and continues until now.
SINCE is mostly used with the present perfect and perfect progressive tense.

Here are some example sentences:

  • He hasn’t eaten since 7 o’clock.
    (My period of not eating started at 7 and continues until right now)
  • I have been working here since June.
  • We have been married since 2002.
    (We got married in 2002 and we continue to be married now 16 years later)

Example sentences using FOR

  • For ten minutes
  • For eight hours
  • For five days
  • For six months
  • For three years
  • For two centuries

Notice how everything after FOR refers to a duration of time.

However, the time period does not need to be exact. For example:

  • I have been a teacher for years.
    (I don’t specify the exact number though it refers to a duration of years)

We could also say For a long time (which is less specific) or more informally, for ages.

Another inexact duration is:

For a while which normally means for a short period of time, not a long period.

Example sentences using SINCE

Now let’s look at some examples using SINCE:

  • Since 8 o’clock
  • Since Monday
  • Since February
  • Since 1982
  • Since I left school
  • Since the end of last century

Notice how everything after SINCE refers to a starting point.

Summary Chart

The difference between FOR and SINCE in English

Lesson tags: Common Mistakes, For, Prepositions, Since, Time
Back to: English Course > Prepositions in English

Lesson 29. Sentences with because and so alliances: I stayed at home because it was raining. — I stayed at home because it was raining

когда ставится for а когда since

In this lesson, we will analyze complex sentences with unions. because, as, since — because, since, so — therefore, so that, that is, sentences expressing cause and effect… In colloquial speech, conjunctions are usually used. because, so, in writing meet as, since.

:

  • Sentences with because and so unions.
  • A sentence with that is why.
  • Difference between because, as, since.
  • “Because of” in a simple sentence.
  • Exercises.
  • Vocabulary.

Sentences with because and so unions

Clauses with reason clauses are simpler than the complex sentences that we discussed in previous lessons. The most important thing is to understand the difference between unions. Because и so. Both unions are needed to express a reason, but are used in different ways.

  • union Because means “because” — it stands before that part of the sentence where the reason is called (underlined in the example).

I stayed at home Because it was raining. — I stayed at home, because it was raining.

I called the dog just “dog” Because I didn’t know the dog’s name. — I called the dog just «dog», because didn’t know her name.

  • union so means “therefore” or “so” — it stands before that part where the effect is called, that which followed the cause.

It was raining so I stayed at home. — It was raining, so I stayed at home.

I didn’t know the dog’s name, so I called it just “dog”. — I didn’t know the name of the dog, so that just called her «dog».

One more time:

  • Because — “because” stands before the reason.
  • so — “therefore”, “so that” is facing the investigation.

I will give you more examples:

I live in the country Because I don’t noise. — I live outside the city because I don’t like noise.

I cats Because they are nice. — I like cats because they are cute.

I have no money so I’m looking for a job. — I have no money, so I’m looking for a job.

I didn ‘know those people so I didn’t tell them your phone number. “I didn’t know those people, so I didn’t tell them your phone number.

Please note that the clause with the union so never put at the beginning of a sentence, as in Russian, the clause with “therefore”:

  • Correctly: I have no money so I’m looking for a job. — I have no money, so I’m looking for a job.
  • Wrong:So I’m looking for a job, I have no money. — That’s why I’m looking for a job, I have no money.

Subclause with Because it is possible to put at the beginning of a sentence, but it is better to avoid it. The design is not entirely elegant:

Because it was raining, I stayed at home. — Because it was raining, I stayed at home.

In Russian we use the conjunction «since» instead of «because», if the reason needs to be put at the beginning of a sentence, in English we use the conjunction since — since:

Since it was raining, I stayed at home. — Since it was raining, I stayed at home.

Please note that since, as well as «since» in Russian, it sounds a little dry and is more common in official speech, and not everyday.

A sentence with that is why

Instead of a union so sometimes the construction is more appropriate that is why (that’s why) — that’s why, for this reason. This is, let’s say, a strengthened version of the union so, is used when you need to emphasize a causal relationship.

For example:

I have no money that’s why I’m looking for a job. — I have no money, that’s why I’m looking for a job.

It was raining that’s why I stayed at home. — It was raining, that’s why I stayed at home.

Difference between because, as, since

Unions as и since are similar in meaning to because, but there are very differences:

  • First, alliances as и since are used less often and mainly in written formal speech,
  • Secondly, in sentences with Because the emphasis is on reason, and sentences with as or since — on the result.

We declined your application as / since you did not fill it in properly. — We rejected your application because you did not fill it out properly.

  • Third, the clauses with as и since are often placed at the beginning of a sentence.

As / since you did not fill in your application properly, we declined it. — Since you did not fill out your application properly, we rejected it.

“Because of” in a simple sentence

Word Because can be used in a simple sentence as part of the construction «because of + noun pronoun», which acts as a circumstance of the reason. For example:

I did it only because of you… “I only did it because of you.

I stayed at home because of the weather… — I stayed at home because of the weather.

Please note: the pronoun after because of stands in object case:

  • Correctly: I did it because of her / him / us / them.
  • Wrong: I did it because of she / he / we / they.

Dictionary

Remember these common adverbs:

only [ˈƏʊnli] only
Even [ˈIːvən] even
fair [ʤʌst] just, just

Adverb only usually placed before a noun. If a noun is preceded by an adjective or determinant, only is put before them:

I have only one chance. — I have only one chance.

It can be put in front of the union because:

I did it only because you asked me. “I only did it because you asked me to.

Even can come before the word being defined:

I play football, volleyball, tennis, Even cricket. — I play football, volleyball, tennis, even to cricket.

Also Even often placed at the beginning of a simple sentence or a complex sentence:

Even my cat watches TV. — Even my cat is watching TV.

We need a new TV because Even my cat watches TV. — We need a new TV because even my cat is watching TV.

  • fair — simple, just

Just is placed before the word being defined, usually a noun, adjective, or verb.

It is fair a scratch. — It’s just a scratch.

I am fair tired. — I’m just tired (tired).

Just tell me the truth. “Just tell me the truth.

  • >> Next lesson

Source: https://langformula.ru/lessons/because-so/

The Present Perfect Tense (for beginners)

когда ставится for а когда since

English The Present Perfect Tense — the most difficult to understand tense of the verb in English.

This is due to the fact that this time belongs to the present period in English, as can be seen from its name, but translated into Russian past tense.

  Although in the Russian system of tenses the verb has only three tenses (present, past, future), the verb in Russian also has a category of the form: perfect and imperfect. A whole article is devoted to this confusing story — Why does the English verb have so many tenses?

Let’s start exploring English Time The Present Perfect Tense in order «from simple to complex», namely:

1. How to make an affirmative sentence in Present Perfect?
2. What temporal expressions indicate Present Perfect (basic level)?
3. How to make a negative and interrogative sentence in Present Perfect?

* * *

1. How to make a sentence in Present Perfect?

Let’s start with an affirmative sentence in Present Perfect, the diagram of which is presented below:

Moreover, the verb Have changes by faces and numbers in the usual way. — The verb Have in English

* * *

2. What temporary expressions indicate Present Perfect?

Let’s divide all temporary expressions (hints) by four groups:

  1. Tips for beginners: ever * (?), never * (+), yet (- ,?), already *, just * (group I);
  2. since, for;
  3. lately, recently, before;
  4. today, this week (month, year); listen! look!

Remember this sequence: ever, never, yet, already, just; since, for; lately, recently, before.

* * *

Present Perfect Tense (tips for beginners) — Group I

  1. Ever * (?)  — someday (used in interrogative sentences),
  2. Never * (+) — never (used in affirmative sentences, but makes them negative)
  3. Yet (-) — not yet (used in negative sentences)
  4. Yet (?) — already (in interrogative sentences),
  5. already * (+) — already (used in affirmative sentences),
  6. just * (+) — just now

(*) — means that this adverb is placed after the verb have: I have already finished my work. The sign in brackets indicates the type of sentence in which this adverb is used.

(+) — in the affirmative: I have just * come back. — I have just returned.

(-) — in negative: I have not been to Paris yet. — I have not been to Paris yet.

(?) — in the interrogative: Have you ever * been to Paris? — Have you ever been to Paris?

 * * *

3. How to make a negative and interrogative sentence in Present Perfect?

Negative and interrogative sentences in Present Perfect Tense are built using an auxiliary verb have. About the functions of the verb Have can be read here — The verb Have in English. Have it does not translate to «have», although it implies just that. That is why, in English, Present Perfect is the present tense.

EXAMPLE. I have come back. — I have myself back. (literal translation).

Abbreviations:

  • have + not = haven’t
  • has + not = hasn’t

EXAMPLES.

  • Have you finished your work yet? — You already finished your job?
  • No, I haven’t. — No.
  • I haven’t finished my work yet. — I more did not finish my work.
  • Has she written a letter? — She wrote a letter?
  • No, she hasn’t. — No.
  • She hasn’t written a letter. — She didn’t write the letter.

In this Completed the basic level of The Present Perfect Tense for beginners and you can start exercising.

Source: http://englishinn.ru/present-perfect-tense-dlya-nachinayushhih.html

Prepositions since and for: rules of use and examples with translation

когда ставится for а когда since

In English, you can express in several ways how long a process has lasted or will continue. There are indeed many constructions, but there are four prepositions that are really important in learning English, since constructions with them are constantly encountered in everyday speech.

These prepositions are since, for, during and ago… The use of such official parts of speech, of course, is limited by the norms that are worth remembering so that the speech sounds beautiful and natural.

How are for and since used?

The prepositions since and for are often used by native speakers in everyday speech.

The prepositions «with» and «after», conjunctions «since» and «after» can serve as analogues of since in Russian. This preposition is used in cases when it is necessary to express that an action or state of something began at a certain moment in the past, or the duration of an event in time.

For example:

  • I haven’t been to Britain since the age of twelve. “I haven’t been to Britain since I was twelve.
  • I don’t play hockey anymore since the day our team lost. — After the loss of our team, I no longer play hockey.
  • He’s been working at this factory since last May. “He has been working at this factory since last May.
  • I have been sick since Thursday. — I’ve been sick since Thursday.

These were constructions denoting a specific period of time. There is also a use case worth mentioning: in the meaning «insofar as».

It is important to mention this, sometimes this preposition in a sentence can be translated both as «because» and as «after»:

  • Since you stopped paying me I decided not to work. — Since (since) you stopped paying me, I decided not to work.

У since and for there are many similarities, but the latter is much easier to use. In addition to the well-known meanings of the goal, reason, designation of price and many other functions, in Russian denoted «for» and «for», this preposition can be used to answer the question «for how long.»

examples:

  • You did not attend classes for three weeks and a half. “You haven’t attended class for three and a half weeks.
  • I was doing it for months. — I’ve been doing it for months.
  • We will be riding there for two days. — We will ride there for two days.
  • He had been locked in London Tower for fifteen years before he escaped. “He was locked in the Tower of London for fifteen years before he escaped.
  • We were in Turkey for the last eight days. — We have been in Turkey for the last eight days.

Rules for using for

The temporary preposition for is used in conjunction with the nouns day, month, hour, year, etc. In this case, nouns are often plural and often with some kind of numeral, or the numeral can be omitted if it has an indefinite meaning (for example: many, several).

Structure:

noun + ch + preposition + time span.

Take a look for yourself:

  • I was there for three days… — I was there for three days.
  • We were here for weeks. “We’ve been here for several weeks.
  • He was working on it for a month. — He worked on this for a month.

It is worth noting several stable phrases that use this preposition in its temporary meaning. For example: «for the time being», «for a while» — «for a while», «for now» — «at the moment», «for a moment» — «for a moment». These stable phrases are often found in live communication and in the text. They are intuitive, but worth mentioning.

Usage rules since

When using since, an action (or state) that occurs during any period of time must be incomplete at the time of writing the sentence, and the time when this action began to occur must be known.

Usually this time is indicated by a specific month, time, day, but not a vague indicator (first half of the month, first three days of the week). For this reason, perfect times are often used in this design, especially Perfect Continuous.

Structure:

noun + ch + preposition + beginning of action (state).

For example:

  • I haven’t been here since March. — I haven’t been here since March.
  • I have been waiting here since 1:00 pm. — I’ve been waiting here since 13:00.
  • I have been working on it since Christmas. — I’ve been working on this since Christmas.

Difference between since and for

These two prepositions are similar: they both help to understand that the action took place over a certain time.

But for in this case reports exactly how long the process has already been running, and since — from what time.

With the right construction, you can use any of the prepositions.

For example, it is October and you want to report that you have been working in the cafe for three months. If so, you can also say “I have been working in this café since July” or “I have been working in this café for three months now”.

Since is more important when you started working, and for how long you work (or worked).

Therefore, it is categorically impossible to use since if you quit a week ago.

In this case, it will already be a limited amount of time: from July to October — therefore, it will be more intelligent to put for.

If you want to emphasize that you started working in July, use two prepositions: after and for.

For example:

I was working for three months after I got this job… — I worked for three months until I got this job.

The preposition during

This preposition also means that the event took place during a period of time. During is similar in many ways to for, but with a significant difference. The for preposition is used to explain how long something lasted: «for two weeks», «for six moths».

The preposition during, on the other hand, describes an event, state, or action that occurs during another event, action, or state.

Word During often can be used before the single word week, hour, etc.as before for, however, it must be a specific week, hour, etc.

The meaning of the word in this version changes, instead of “during” the preposition begins to mean “during”.

During does not seek to indicate the amount of time that was spent, but rather the fact that the time was spent in a specific period of time: during a holiday, watching the news. In many ways, this preposition even replaces a quantitative designation (as the pronoun «he» replaces the noun «postman», for example).

Structure:

noun + ch + preposition + event, action, state.

examples:

  • I was in Mexico during the Festival of Death. — I was in Mexico during the Festival of Death.
  • He was saying nonsense during his sickness. “He spoke nonsense during his illness.
  • We were sleeping during hijacking. — We slept during the hijacking.
  • I was unavailable during that week. — I was unavailable that week.

All these uses may seem like incomprehensible wisdom, but in fact it is easy to remember. It’s just that if the exact amount of time is replaced by an exact noun, then the word for changes to the word during.

The preposition ago

The constructions with the preposition ago are very easy. There is almost nothing to memorize here, just the translation of the word. In Russian it means «back.» Often used in conjunction with the verbs «begin» and «start».

In fact, ago, like all of your friends in this article, denotes a period of time, only in this case — how much time has passed since the designated event. Unlike other prepositions, ago in a sentence or part of a sentence can go to the end.

Aug it also has the characteristics of a particle: it is independent, does not require its own construction, and has a stable self-importance.

Structure:

noun + ch + time + preposition.

For example:

  • Ten years ago I started this business. — Ten years ago I started this business.
  • I decided to find him five months ago… “I decided to find him five months ago.
  • We were at the same place three hours ago. “We were in the same place three hours ago.

Exercises for since and for

Let’s be honest, during and ago are prepositions that don’t need to be reinforced. You just need to remember in which situation a certain word is a great solution. With since and for, sometimes unpleasant complications can arise, so it is very important to consolidate knowledge after reading the theory. If you are confident in your knowledge, go through the following simple exercises.

Exercise 1. In each of the 20 spaces, insert one of two prepositions: since or for. The answers can be found under the last sentence.

  1. I have been working here _____ half a year.
  2. I haven’t taken a pill _____ last month.
  3. We were abroad _____ December.
  4. He was traveling _____ eight months.
  5. My dog ​​has not been sick _____ winter.
  6. It was snowing _____ many hours this morning.
  7. _____ how many days before holiday were you working?
  8. It’s been raining _____ Saturday after we arrived.
  9. I was thinking about this _____ a week.
  10. We have been using your help _____ the last two weeks.
  11. _____ third century we lived here.
  12. We were building this place _____ last three months of the year.
  13. My friend have been explaining it _____ ten minutes _____ you arrived.
  14. He will work hard _____ three weeks after that moment.
  15. We’ve been doing this _____ last three centuries.
  16. Many things have changed _____ last month.
  17. They were working _____ 3:32 am.
  18. I’m sorry for Richard, he was working on this project _____ days.
  19. _____when did you learn Croatian?

Answers:

  1. for;
  2. since;
  3. since;
  4. for;
  5. since;
  6. for;
  7. for;
  8. since;
  9. for;
  10. for;
  11. since;
  12. for;
  13. for, since;
  14. for;
  15. for;
  16. since;
  17. since;
  18. for;
  19. since.

Conclusion

To remember the rules for using prepositions and the difference between them, ear memory is enough. Chances are, you won’t be able to learn how to use them with flashcards. It is better to go to or VKontakte right now and find the use of prepositions of time in English with examples, it will be useful.

Good luck with your language learning.

Source: https://eng911.ru/rules/grammar/since-for.html

32 Because As Since For — Video Distribution

All right folks!

We will not be long walking-wandering through the wilds of English in this issue. But instead we will touch upon one very important topic in which many manage to get confused. We will talk about four unions, which can be translated into Russian as «because». I’m talking about «because, as, since, for«. Actually, let’s not preface any further and get down to the story.

***

It is worth noting immediately that in Russian there is more than one causal union: because (how), since, since, for. But sticking to each English version is not worth it — after all, languages ​​and traditions are different. But comparing four words with each other and slightly paralleling them with Russian is quite possible for a better understanding. In general, let’s start already.

BECAUSE AS SINCE FOR

The main thing that needs to be understood is that all unions introduce a subordinate clause that explains the reasons for what is contained in the main one. And in the main is the result to which the reasons led. Let’s practice using a Russian example.

«Timofey is smart because he reads books»

Timofey the smart is the result of the fact that he reads books. And, accordingly, reading books is the reason why Timofey is smart. 

What is the emphasis in this phrase? For a reason. Timothy’s mind is already visible. The author of the phrase wants to explain the reasons why Tim suddenly stopped being blunt.

But it happens that the emphasis shifts towards the result, and the reasons that led to it are secondary. Let me give you an example.

«I hope we have enough money for food, because the salary is not coming soon»

The focus is on food money. The fact that the salary is small is no longer so important. The main thing is that at least there is enough for food.

Well, it seems easy. Now let’s move on to English.

BECAUSE

The most universal and neutral causal union. Roughly like our «because». «Because»Specifically refers to the reason. The result is secondary. Which, in general, is not surprising. Indeed, the word itself contains this meaning.

By (by) + cause (reason) = because

☞ He hated being in the army BECAUSE he had to obey commands ⇒ He hated military service because he had to obey orders. (Cambridge Dictionary)

The focus is on the result — hatred of military service.

☞ The reason the party is in this mess is BECAUSE it has not been honest with the voters ⇒ The reason the party faced problems was because it was dishonest towards voters.

Again, the speaker brings to us the thought of dishonesty. The problems of the party are a little on the sidelines.

***

They say to start sentences right away with «Because» (and «and» and «but«) — not right. This is not entirely true. There is no hard and fast rule on this. There are only recommendations. But they are widely ignored. Even dictionaries.

☞ BECAUSE breathing is something we do automatically, we rarely think about it ⇒ Since breathing is something we do automatically, we rarely think about it. (Cambridge Dictionary) 

Source: https://www.yescenter.ru/informaciya/baza-znanij/anglijskij-yazyk/uroki-onlajn/rassylka/because-as-since-for/

Present perfect continuous rules, examples, sentences

Present Perfect Continuous formed using an auxiliary verb to be in the form of Present Perfect ( have been, has been ) and the present participle of a semantic verb — present participle (ing-the form)

Interrogative Present Perfect Continuous  is formed by setting the first auxiliary verb before the subject, and the rest of the tense form after the subject, and negative — using the particle -not, which is placed after the first auxiliary verb.

Affirmative form Interrogative form negative form
+ have / has been + IV Have / Has been + IV? have / has not been + IV
I have (= I’ve) have been playing. I’m playing. ( already with ) Have I’ve been playing? Am I playing? I have not (= I haven’t) have been playing. I do not play.
HeSheIt Has Been playing= (‘s been playing) you hesheit Been playing? HeSheIt has not been playing= (hasn’t been playing)
WeyouThey have been playing= (‘ve been playing) Have weyouthey Been playing? WeyouThey have not been playing= (haven’t been playing)

The meaning and use of Present Perfect Continuous

1) Present Perfect Continuous Tenseused to express a long-term action that began in the past and is still taking place at the present time… In this case, the period during which the action is performed is always indicated.

The duration of the action is indicated by circumstances such as for (during), for a long time, all day, all day long, how long, and the beginning of the action — turns with the preposition since (since, since) — since 1987, since five o’clock.

Examples of using present perfect continuous:

How long have you been doing bodybuilding? — How long have you been doing bodybuilding

I’ve been doing bodybuilding for six years already — I’ve been doing bodybuilding for 6 years

How long have you been living here? — How long have you lived here

We’ve been living here for a year only. — We only live here one year

I’ve been living in England since 1955. — I’ve been living in England since 1955

2) Present Perfect Continuouscan be used without specifying the duration of actionif it is clear from the context that the action began in the past and has continued (or continues) to the present.

Do not payattention to my

I’ve been repairing my car — I am repairing my car

Why are your eyes red? — Why do you have red eyes?

I’ve been cutting onions. — I cut the bow

You are not well to-day. You look distressed. You have been weeping — you are not getting well today. You look miserable. You were crying

3) With verbs that are not used in the Continuous form, in the meaning of Present Perfect Continuous are used Present Perfect forms.

How long have you been here? — How long have you been here?

I’ve been here since 2 o’clock. — I’ve been here since 2 o’clock

I’ve known Tony for two years. “I’ve known Tony for five years.

4) If we are talking about an ordinary, constant action inherent in the subject, i.e. which occurs in general, and not at the moment of speech, then when indicating the duration of the action, along with the Present Perfect Continuous, the Present Perfect is used. The use of Present Perfect Continuous emphasizes the duration of the action, while the Present Perfect emphasizes the fact of the action.:

Has not been living in Moscow for five years = He has lived in Moscow for five years — He has been living in Moscow for (already) five years.

Often there is almost no difference between Present Perfect and Present Perfect Continuous in this sense.:

I’ve worked for the same company for twelve years. — I worked in the company for 12 years

I’ve been working for the same company for twelve years. — I worked in the company for 12 years

But in the suggestions below, the difference between Present Perfect Tense and Present Perfect Continuous Tense is dramatic: a sentence with Present Perfect shows the completeness of the action; Present Perfect Continuous indicates the duration, incompleteness of the action:

I’ve been watching TV show (= I haven’t finished it). — I’m watching the program (i.e. I’m in the process).

I’ve watched TV show (= I’ve finished it). — I watched the program. (I finished watching her.)

I’ve been learning Spanish all afternoon. — I study Spanish all day.

I’ve learned Spanish (= I know it). — I learned Spanish. (I know him.)

5) The Present Perfect Continuous Tense is also used for expression of an action that lasted for a certain period of time, but ended immediately before the moment of speech and is associated with the present tense by its result… The period of time during which the action was performed may or may not be specified. In these cases, Present Perfect Continuous is translated into Russian by the past tense of the imperfective verb:

Source: https://englishart.ru/present-perfect-continuous/

Present Perfect Continuous: how it is formed and what action expresses, principles and examples of the use of time, description of examples with translation

27.06.2019

We think you have already studied English tenses from the Present group: Present Simple, Present Continuous and Present Perfect. Today we invite you to get acquainted with the latest time from this group — Present Perfect Continuous Tense (Present Perfect Continued Time).

How is Present Perfect Continuous Tense formed?

Let’s analyze the name of this time and try to guess how it was formed. The name contains the word Perfect, which means that we need the auxiliary verb have / has (moreover, the present tense form, since it is Present), there is also the word Continuous, which means that there must be a verb to be and an imperfect participle (ING- new form of the verb). Quite right!

What action does Present Perfect Continuous Tense express?

  • This time expresses an action that started in the past, continued for some time and continues to this day — either just ended and there is a result.
  • “I have been learning English for 3 years” — which means I started learning English in the past, studied for three years and still study it — I have been learning English for 3 years.

Consider another example. — The sun is shining, but the earth is somehow wet.

— It was raining.

That is, it started raining in the past, it rained for a while and just stopped, and there is a result: the ground is wet. It has been raining.

  • Your face is dirty. What have you been doing? — You have a dirty face, what did you do?
  • He’s so tired. He has been working in the garden. — He’s so tired. He worked in the garden.

The prepositions FOR and SINCE

The time interval during which the action takes place is introduced using the prepositions of time FOR — «during» and SINCE — «from (some time)»

  • He has been writing his new book for two years already. — He has been writing his new book for 2 years already.
  • Here you are at last! I have been waiting for you for half an hour! — And here you are at last! I’ve been waiting for you for half an hour.
  • Granny has been making pancakes since morning. — Grandma bakes pancakes in the morning
  • My uncle has been writing poems since his childhood. — My uncle has been writing poetry since childhood.

Accordingly, if we are interested in how long the action takes place, we will ask a question using the interrogative word “How long how long«And use Present Perfect Continuous Tense:

  • How long has Alan been looking for a job? — How long has Alan been looking for a job?
  • How long has it been raining? — How long has it been raining?
  • Verbs have, be, know instead of Present Perfect Continuous they are used in Present Perfect Simple: • I have known Tom since our childhood — I have known Tom since childhood • We have been at the seaside for two weeks — We have been on the coast for 2 weeks. • I have had this car for three months already. — I have this car for three months

Present Continuous vs Present Perfect Continuous Tense

In Present Continuous Tense, the action takes place at the moment, now:

  • Mother is cooking dinner — Mom is cooking dinner (the action takes place now)

In Present Perfect Continuous Tense, the action has already been taking place for some time and at the moment is either still happening or has just ended:

  • Mother has been cooking dinner for two hours. — Mom prepares lunch for 2 hours (the action took place over 2 hours and is happening at the moment)
  • Mother is tired, she has been cooking dinner. — Mom is tired, she was preparing dinner. (the action has been going on for some time and has just ended)

Comparison of Present Perfect and Present Perfect Continuous Tense 

Source: https://tutorblog.ru/drugoe/present-perfect-continuous-pravila-ispolzovaniya-nastoyashhego-sovershennogo-prodolzhennogo-vremeni.html

Present Perfect (repetition) and Present Perfect Continuous (present perfect long). Affirmative and negative sentences

Of all the times, using the times of the Perfect group is the most difficult. The fact is that the Russian translation does not always «hint» at the use of Present Perfect time, and there are no analogues to the times of Present Perfect Continuous, Past Perfect and Past Perfect Continuous in Russian.

A number of verbs, when used in Present Perfect, have a different shade of action than other verbs.

These verbs (, love, hate, want, wish, be, Have, Know, understand, remember, own, possess, Believe, hear) can express actions that began in the past and are still ongoing.

We have owned this cottage since 1979. — We have owned this cottage since 1979.

They Have already Known each other for 25 years. — They have known each other for 25 years.

We can say that Present Perfect Continuous tense expresses a similar long-term effect, but for all other verbs. But in fact, everything is somewhat more complicated. First, let’s see how the present perfect tense form is formed.

All forms of Present Perfect Continuous are formed using the auxiliary verb to be in Present Perfect (Have/Has Been) + present participle of the semantic verb (doing).

Note

The above verbs (, love, hate, want, wish, be, Have, Know, understand, remember, own, possess, Believe, hear, which usually do not have a long (Continuous) form, sometimes they can form it. Long form (ending -ing) of these verbs gives the action additional importance or emotion. It happens that the long-term form is necessary according to the conditions of the context. Therefore, if you are still not well versed in the intricacies of the Perfect tenses, do not abuse the long forms of these verbs.

Affirmative sentence

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
I Have Been Watching TV Since 2 o’clock
We
you
They
She you Reading This book The Two hours already
He
It Raining Hard Since Yesterday evening

Negative sentences

The negative form is formed traditionally for the Perfect group tense — after the auxiliary verb Have/has put a negative particle Note.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
I Have not Been Playing Cards Since Morning
We
you
They
She you have not Waiting The The bus
He
It Raining Since Morning

The Present Perfect Continuous expresses an action that began in the past and is still ongoing.

We have been staying here for a week already. — We’ve been here for a week.

Jack has not been telling lies all along. “Jack wasn’t lying to begin with.

Source: https://www.study.ru/courses/elementary/perfect

How to understand the prepositions of time and place in English?

Prepositions of time, place, and addition are found in almost every English sentence. Considering that even native speakers are sometimes confused in their use, it is not only important to understand this topic, but also interesting!

Prepositions for a specific moment in time

In English, various prepositions are used to indicate a specific moment in time. Consider the following rules:

When talking about days, the preposition should be used on:

  • We will see him on Saturday. — We will see him в Saturday.
  • my vacation begins on Monday. — My vacation will begin в Monday.

To indicate half day, midnight, night and hours of the day, use the preposition at:

  • Her train arrives at midnight. — Her train arrives в midnight.
  • We to walk at night. — We like to walk at night.
  • The concert finished at 10 pm — Concert is over в 10 pm.

With the rest of the day, months, seasons and years, use the preposition correctly in:

  • Small children usually sleep in the afternoon. — Small children usually sleep during the day.
  • The nights are long in January. — В January nights are long.
  • The birds leave in late autumn. — Birds fly away in late autumn.
  • The town was founded in 1825 — The city was founded в 1825 year.

Prepositions for a period of time

To designate a certain period or process in time in English, it is customary to use the following prepositions: since, for, by, from-to, from-until, During, (with)in… Let’s look at examples:

  • They are going to Rome for a week. — They’re going to Rome on a week.
  • He has been sick since yesterday. — He is sick with yesterday.
  • It often rains in London from February to May. — C February by May it rains a lot in London.
  • He will be on important business trip since July until the end of August. — He will be on an important business trip с July by end of August.
  • We are going to visit many countries During our vacations. — During the we are going to travel to many countries on vacation.
  • He was the first student to finish up the work Within an hour. — He was the first student to graduate for hours.

Prepositions for specifying a place

A number of prepositions are used to define a place in space in English.

If you need to report the presence of an object in any place or in another object, you should use the preposition in:

  • There is nobody in the room. — В the room is empty.
  • They live in Spain. — They live в Spain.

Pretext inside are used to communicate that an object is inside something that has clear boundaries:

  • There is a toy inside the box. — within the box is a toy.

If something is lying on some surface, here you need the preposition on:

  • She put the cake on the table. — She put the cake on table.

When talking about a specific location, the preposition is better. at:

  • He waited for us right at the bus stop. — He was waiting for us right on bus stop.

Prepositions for specifying the location of an object (above or below something)

In English, when defining an object that is above something or above something, prepositions are used over, above. For example:

  • There are clouds over the city. — Above city ​​of clouds.
  • There is a painting above the sofa. — Above sofa picture.

In order to describe an object located below or under another object in space, the prepositions should be used under, underneath, beneath, below:

  • The cat is hiding under the bed. — The cat is hiding under bed.
  • The temperature is 5 degrees below zero. — Temperature — 5 degrees below scratch.
  • My pencil was lying underneath the table. — My pencil was lying under table.

Prepositions indicating that the object is near

Prepositions should be used to describe an object that is in close proximity near, by, Next to, between, among

Source: https://skyeng.ru/articles/kak-razobratsya-v-predlogah-vremeni-i-mesta-v-anglijskom

Enjoy learning English online with Puzzle English for free

The prepositions since and for have several meanings. The main thing is an indication of the validity period. They often appear in similar contexts: for example, in Past Perfect. But they cannot replace each other: you need to remember the rules for their use.

Among the prepositions of time in English, these two words occupy a special position: they do not denote the time of action itself, but refer to the period. And they do it in different ways. For reflects the period itself, and since its starting point. Also, time is not the only meaning for for and since, they occur in other contexts as well. To understand these two words, let’s look at the meanings of each of the prepositions with examples.

The preposition for

The first of the prepositions for and since denotes the period during which the event lasted and has the meaning «for a certain time»:

When he came to the office, I had already worked for two hours — When he came to the office, I had already worked for two hours.

This apartment has been empty for years — This apartment has been empty for years.

We go to the seaside for two weeks every year — Every year we go to the seaside for two weeks.

My brother will be in Spain for the next week — My brother will be in Spain for the next week.

These examples show that the preposition for can be used with different tenses: past, present and future. The most common time with for as the validity period is the Perfect form, although its use is optional. For example, the period can refer to the future tense (He’s going to Brazil for the winter — He leaves for Brazil for the winter).

However, specifying the validity period does not interfere with the use of other time markers, such as repeatability, as in the example We go to the seaside for two weeks every year.

When we talk about how long the action lasts to the present moment, the preposition for is used with the Present Perfect time. In such examples, you must carefully distinguish whether since or for should be used.

Mr Taylor has known me for three years — Mr Taylor has known me for three years.

Colloquially, for can be omitted. It is often omitted with the question how long (how long, for how long) and is not used before the word all:

We’ve lived in this house (for) six weeks — We’ve lived in this house for six weeks.

How long have you been waiting (for)? — How long have you been waiting?

I’ve had a headache all day — I have a headache all day.

The preposition since

The preposition since indicates the period of the event in a different way: it conveys when the action began, serves as its starting point:

We’ve been waiting since six o’clock — We have been waiting since six o’clock.

We’ve known your brother since January — We’ve known your brother since January.

The question may arise at what time is used since. If for is used with various verb forms, then since serves as an explicit marker for Perfect tenses:

I’ve been working since six o’clock and I’m getting tired — I’ve been working since six o’clock and I’m getting tired.

It is common to use the preposition since in negative sentences to emphasize the last time a situation occurred:

We haven’t seen Jimmy since Christmas — We haven’t seen Jimmy since Christmas.

The preposition since can be replaced by the preposition from with the tenses of perfect, when it is necessary to emphasize the meaning «from this time»:

She’s been that from (since) her childhood — She’s been that since childhood.

Although the more typical use of from is with imperfect tenses. The preposition since cannot be used in such cases.

This vase dates from the 17th century — This vase dates from the 17th century.

Since / for rule in the times of Perfect

So, both prepositions are used with Perfect tenses. They both indicate how long the action lasts, but indicate the period in different ways. The for preposition serves to convey the duration itself, while since only indicates the starting point.

Compare offers:

I’ve known her for six months — I’ve known her for six months.

I’ve known her since last summer — I’ve known her since last summer.

She’s been working here for a long time — She has been working here for a long time.

She’s been working here since July — She has been working here since July.

The since or for rule is not defined by a verb in a sentence, but by an indication of the tense that follows the preposition. If it denotes a point on the timeline (last winter, July), then since is used. If the preposition is followed by a description of a period of time (six months, a long time), use for.

Other uses

The word since in English can act both as a preposition and as a union. That is, it can be followed not only by a noun denoting the beginning of an action, but also by a subordinate clause. At the same time, the meaning of the beginning of the event is preserved: the union since is translated «since».

I’ve known her since we were at college — I’ve known her since we were in college.

Source: https://puzzle-english.com/directory/for-and-since

Present Perfect

Many people call time a present perfect «tautology». And it is not surprising, because an action performed in the past is called the present. Why and why? It is not difficult to switch to «you» with Present Perfect if every nuance of use, education and special cases is thoroughly disassembled and understood.

Let’s start our acquaintance with the presentation, let’s look into the depth of this shade. Like any time in English, Present perfect tense reflects action. But its specificity is that the action has already taken place, and we see the result from it. In this situation, we do not focus on when the event happened, we are not interested in it, it does not matter, but we are now talking about what it entailed, what it led to. For example:

Have you found the place on the map? — Have you found this place on the map yet? (We are not interested in: how much did I look for, when did I start; the result — whether I found it or not)

I can’t walk. I think I have sprained my ankle. — I can’t go. I think I sprained my ankle. (We do not note, we are not interested in: when I dislocated, how I dislocated; the result — I can’t walk).

Of course, this is the main characteristic or, as it is also called, the function. We will consider all use cases, comparisons below.

Education 

According to the rules for Present Perfect, we need the auxiliary verbs has / have, and we will put the semantic verbs in V3 (Ved). Remember that all English verbs are divided into regular and irregular. To form this tense, we will add the ending -ed to the correct ones, and the irregular ones have a special form that will have to be learned (3rd column of the table of irregular verbs).

With the subject in the 3rd person singular (if the subject is expressed by a pronoun or a noun meaning: she, he, it), we use has. With everyone else — have. Negation is formed using «not», which is placed after the auxiliary verb, and in the have / has question changes with the subject. As you can see, there is no need to add or remove anything new, only some permutations in the sentence itself.

I have split I have not split Have I spilt?
She (he, it) has spilt She (he, it) has not spilt Has she (he, it) spilt?
You have split You have not split Have you split?
We have split We have not split Have we split?
They have split They have not split Have they split?

Abbreviated forms:

I have = I’ve, She has = she’s, we have = we’ve, they have = they’ve, you have = you’ve.

have + not = haven’t, has + not = hasn’t

Use

The present completed (perfect) tense has several use cases in situations. Let’s take each one apart. All actions can be divided into completed and incomplete.

1. Action ended in the past (signal words are: already, yet, still, recently, lately, just).

  • If the situation ended just (before the moment of the conversation), or earlier, and it is associated with the present, then this is the very case when it is worth using Present Perfect. In other words, if the result is important to you, interesting and necessary for further conversation, which serves as a starting point, then here we use the present perfect tense. The exact moment is not indicated.

He has already published your poem in a local paper. — He has already published your poem in the local newspaper.

I have recently bought this bycicle, but now it is broken. — I recently bought this bike, but now it is broken.

  • To highlight the repetitive actions, their repetition, with the words several times, twice. Also, such a grammatical phenomenon is found in complex attributive sentences where ordinal numbers are used, adjective superlatives, the phrase «the only».

It is one of the happiest days I have ever spent with my mother. — This is one of the happiest days I have ever spent with my mom.

It is the only time my father has been away for holiday. — This is the only time dad was not at the party.

My friends went to England again. They have been there several times. — My friends went to England again. They have been there several times already.

2. Action unfinished in the past (signal words are: this week, this year, today, this morning, since, for, never, ever).

  •  If we want to emphasize a long period of time, where the action of interest to us is not completed by the time of the conversation.

He has written two books this year. — He wrote two books this year (the year is not over yet).

Have you seen Mary this morning? — Did you see Mary this morning?

  • It is worth remembering that there are verbs that are not used in Continuous (which can be read in our other article of the same name about non continuous verbs). With given state verbs use Present Perfect instead of Present Perfect Continuous. Very often in this situation, the preposition is used for, which indicates the duration of the action.

 I haven’t had a holiday for 4 years. — I haven’t had a vacation for 4 years.

My parents have been married for 25 years. — My parents have been married for 25 years.

  • with the word «Since», which indicates the last time, before anything (before the conversation)

 She has been off work since the accident. “She hasn’t been working since she had an accident.

  • with the circumstances «Ever, never, always, all my life, so far» — that emphasize an indefinite period of time, incompleteness.

I have never driven a car. — I’ve never driven a car.

My brother has always dreamt of laptop. — My brother always dreamed of a laptop.

Have you ever gone to Italy? — Have you ever traveled to Italy?

They ate a lot yesterday but they haven’t eaten much so far today. — Yesterday they ate a lot, but not yet today.

3. Quite often, but you can still find Present Perfect in relative clauses with as soon as, before, till, until, after, when, which is used instead of Future Perfect (in most cases it is replaced by Present Simple, especially in colloquial speech)

We will give back your car as soon as you’ve found a new job. “We’ll return your car as soon as you find a new job.

Comparison of times 

Source: http://azenglish.ru/present-perfect-prezent-perfekt/

Present Perfect Continuous — Present Perfectly long

Such a long name for the temporal form as Present Perfect Continuous Tense (present for a very long time) will undoubtedly scare those who are just starting to learn English grammar. It immediately seems that such a long name hides a very complex structure with many incomprehensible rules. In fact, the opposite is true.

If you are already familiar with the temporary forms Perfect and Continuous, then this time will seem like a mere trifle to you, because you will not find anything particularly new either in the design or in the rules of use. As you can imagine, Present Perfect Continuous Tense consists of a combination of elements of the Perfect and Continuous groups.

So, let’s figure out what Present Perfect Continuous Tense is.

Present Perfect Continuous Tense Meaning

What is Present Perfect Continuous Tense?

Present Perfect Continuous Tense, in translation, the present for a very long time, expresses an action or event that began at some point in the past and continues until the present moment of speech, while it can continue at the time of speech, or it could end directly before the moment of speech.

Present Perfect Continuous Tense is translated into Russian either by the present or by the past tense, depending on whether the action ended before the moment of speech or is still ongoing.

Like all tenses of the Continuous group, Present Perfect Continuous Tense is not used with static verbs (verbs that denote states, not actions). In such situations, Present Perfect Tense replaces it.

Present Perfect Continuous Tense is rarely used in both colloquial speech and writing.

Present Perfect Continuous Education Rules

Affirmative sentences in Present Perfect Continuous Tense are formed using the auxiliary verb to be in Present Perfect Tense (have / has been) and the present participle of the semantic verb (verb + ending –ing → Present Participe).

Fake. + have / has been + Present Participe

Interrogative sentences are formed by placing the first auxiliary verb to have in the first place before the subject, the rest of the temporal form remains in its place after the subject.

Have / Has + Authentic + been + Present Participe?

To form negative sentences, the particle not is used, which is placed after the first auxiliary verb to have.

Fake. + have / has + not + been + Present Participe

In colloquial speech, it is customary to use abbreviated forms. For example:

  • I have → I’ve [aɪv]
  • he has → he’s [hiz]
  • has not → hasn’t [ˈhæzənt]
  • have not → haven’t [ˈhævənt]

Conjugation Table of the verb tо try in Present Perfect Continuous Tense

Number Face Affirmative form Interrogative form negative form
Unit. h. 1
2
3
I have (I’ve) been trying
You have (You’ve) been trying
He / She / It has (He’s / She’s) been trying
Have I been trying?
Have you been trying?
Has he / she / it been trying?
I have not (haven’t) been trying
You have not (haven’t) been trying
He / She / It has not (hasn’t) been trying
Mn. h. 1
2
3
We have (We’ve) been trying
You have (You’ve) been trying
They have (They’ve) been trying
Have we been trying?
Have you been trying?
Have they been trying?
We have not (haven’t) been trying
You have not (haven’t) been trying
They have not (haven’t) been trying

Present Perfect Continuous Tense is used:

1. If you want to express a lasting action that started in the past tense and is still going on in the present. As a rule, in this case, it is necessary to indicate the period of time during which the action is performed. This period can be indicated by detailed expressions, prepositional phrases, etc .:

  • for an hour (a month, a week) — within an hour (month, week)
  • for a long time — long, for a long time
  • since 4 o’clock (yesterday, morning) — from 4 o’clock (from yesterday, in the morning)
  • since he returned — since he returned
  • lately — recently, recently
  • these two weeks — these two weeks
  • all this year (my life, day long) — all this year (all my life, all day)

Example using “for” and “since”

In translation into Russian, verbs of the imperfect form in the present tense are used. Examples:

  • It has been raining since morning — It has been raining since morning
  • They have been waiting for the train for half an hour — They have been waiting for the train for half an hour
  • I have been thinking of you since I first saw you — I think about you since I first saw you

2. In special questions (if we are talking about the period immediately preceding the moment of speech) that begin with the words:

  • how long — how long, how long
  • since when — since when

examples:

  • How long have you been waiting for us? — How long are you waiting for us?
  • Since when has she been learning Spanish? — Since when has she been studying Spanish?

3. If you want to express a long-term action that began in the past tense and ended just before the moment of speech. Moreover, you want to emphasize the duration of the action and the presence of its result at the moment. The period of time during which the action took place may not be indicated. In translation into Russian, imperfective verbs in the past tense are used. Examples:

  • Come in! I’ve been looking for you all day — Come in! I’ve been looking for you all day
  • Why are you all silent? Have you been talking about me again? — Why are you all silent? Are you talking about me again?
  • Her eyes are red. Has she been crying? — She has red eyes. She cried?

Source: https://englishfull.ru/grammatika/present-perfect-continuous.html

This complete guide gives you a detail look at differences and examples of Since and for, and how they are used to avoid confusion.

The words can prove to be confusing for many native and non-native English speakers.

Knowing the correct and right context to use the words ‘for’ or ‘since’ is an important thing to know when speaking using the right time prepositions.

The two words ‘for and ‘since’ both refer to a period of time but they each have a different meaning.

The word ‘for’ is used to describe a specific amount of time.

The word  ‘since‘ is used to describe a period of time before another event took place.

When to use Since in Sentences

Since is a word used to describe something that has happened in the past. It is also used to describe an event that happened after another event. Let’s have a look at some examples to understand this.

  • Jack hadn’t been to the hospital since he had broken his elbow.
  • I have been waiting since twelve o’clock.
  • I haven’t eaten since last night.
  • It’s been a while since I saw that movie
  • I haven’t visited Cape Town since last year.

When to use For in Sentences

The word ‘for’ is used to measure a time period leading up to the current time. Let us have a look at examples to see how it is used.

  • I have known her for five years.
  • How long have you been here for?
  • I have been waiting for too long.
  • I have been a surgeon for ten years.
  • She studied for one hour.
  • I haven’t been there for a long time.

These two words can be used in the same context, except they must be worded differently. For example:

For Since
I haven’t seen him for four years. They haven’t seen him since four years ago.
We have been doing this for 7 days. I have been doing this since I started 7 days ago.
I haven’t seen a doctor for a long time. It’s been a long time since I have seen a doctor.

It should be noted that the word ‘for’ is not always used to describe past time, it can also be used to refer to present and future tenses. While we can use ‘for’ in a past and present tense; the word ‘since’ can only be used in a past tense.

For example:

  • I have something for you.
  • This is working for me.
  • I do not want it for that.
  • I am going to wait for you.

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