1. Since or for?
• SINCE points to the BEGINNING of a
period of time.
• SINCE is followed by a specific past time. It
is only used in the “perfect” verb tenses.
I have been sick since Wednesday
Beginning of
Joe has worked here since October the action
2. Since or for?
• FOR indicates the LENGTH of a period of
time (with no reference to WHERE in time
that period is located).
•FOR is followed by a number or amount of
time. The rest of the sentence tells the time,
which can be past, present or future.
I have been sick for 4 days
Duration of
the action
Joe has worked here for 9 months
3. Present perfect progressive
Action happening now Present progressive
Expresses that an action is
happening in this moment:
Present
• I am reading a book right now
Present perfect progressive
Duration of Expresses the duration of an
an action
action that started in the past
Past Present and is still happening now
• I have been reading a book for 2 hours
