Present Perfect + For / Since

1. Present Perfect + for or
since
ON LINE COURSE – LEVEL 6
LABORATORIO DE IDIOMAS – FACULTAD DE FILOSOFÍA Y LETRAS
UBA

2. When do we
use the Present
Perfect with
for or since?
 We use the Present Perfect + for or since to talk about
actions and states which started in the past and are still
true now.
 E.g. I have lived in Manchester for twenty years. = I came to
Manchester twenty years ago and I live in Manchester now.

3. When do we
use the
Present
Perfect with
for or since?
 Don’t use the Present Simple in this type of sentece, e.g.
NOT I live in Manchester for twenty years.
 Use How long…? to ask questions about the duration of
an action or a state.
E.g. How long have you lived in Manchester?

4. For
or
Since?
 Use for + a period of time.
E.g. for two weeks; for ten years; for a long time; etc.
I have had this car for three months.
 Use since with the beginning of a period of time.
E.g. since 1980; since last June; etc.
I have been afraid of spiders since I was a child.

5. Examples
 A How long have you worked in this school?
B I’ve worked here since 2005. / for ten years now.
 They have been married for 5 years.
 He has been in the USA since last October.
 We have known Sally since we were at school.
 A How long have you had your dog?
B I’ve had it for a year.