For and Since (time) |
For + period (5 minutes, 2 weeks, 6 years). For means 'from the beginning of the period until the end of the period.'
Since + point (9 o'clock, 1st January, Monday). Since means 'from the point in the past until now.'
| for a period (from start to end) >|||||||||||||< |
since a point (up to now) X======> |
| All tenses | Perfect tenses |
| for... 30 minutes ten days 6 months 2 years 3 centuries a long time ever etc |
since... 10am Tuesday August 1998 I was young I left school the beginning of time etc |
For can be used with all tenses. Here are a few examples:
For is not used with 'all day'/'all the time' etc.
Since is normally used with perfect tenses:
Since can also be used in the structure 'It is (period) since...':
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