Present perfect tense with FOR and SINCE

Present Perfect + for and since

Introduction

We use Present Perfect tense to talk about action which started in the past and continues up to the present.  For and since are used with the present perfect to indicate time. We use for + a period of time when consider the duration, or by considering its starting point, with since + a point in time.

For + a period of time

We use for to talk about a period of time (a few days, half an hour, two years...)
 

Examples

  • I have worked here for five years.
  • She has lived here for twenty years.
  • We have taught at this school for a long time.
  • Alice has been married for three months.
  • They have been at the hotel for a week.

Since + a point in time

We use since to talk about a specific point in time, or a time when the action started (last year, June 8, 9 o'clock, since this morning, since last week, since yesterday...)

 

Examples

  • I have worked here since 1990.
  • She has lived here since 1980.
  • We have taught at this school since 1965
  • Alice has been married since March 2nd.
  • They have been at the hotel since last Tuesday.

Note:

  • For and since can both be used with the past perfect.
  • Since can only be used with perfect tenses, for can also be used with the simple past.