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Unit 12

This document discusses the use of for and since to indicate duration of time. It provides examples of using for with a period of time (e.g. "for two hours") and since with a starting point (e.g. "since 8 o'clock"). It also discusses omitting for in some cases, using in instead of for in negative sentences, and the difference between when...? and how long...? questions. Exercises are provided to reinforce using for and since correctly.

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Danil Pechorin
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181 views

Unit 12

This document discusses the use of for and since to indicate duration of time. It provides examples of using for with a period of time (e.g. "for two hours") and since with a starting point (e.g. "since 8 o'clock"). It also discusses omitting for in some cases, using in instead of for in negative sentences, and the difference between when...? and how long...? questions. Exercises are provided to reinforce using for and since correctly.

Uploaded by

Danil Pechorin
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Unit

12 for and since when … ? and how long … ?


A We use for and since to say how long something has been happening.

We use for + a period of time: We use since + the start of a period:


We’ve been waiting for two hours. We’ve been waiting since 8 o’clock.

for two hours since 8 o’clock

two hours ago now 8 o’clock now


for since
two hours a long time a week 8 o’clock April lunchtime
20 minutes six months ages Monday 2001 we arrived
five days 50 years years 12 May Christmas I got up
Sally has been working here for six Sally has been working here since
months. (not since six months) April. (= from April until now)
I haven’t seen Tom for three days. I haven’t seen Tom since Monday.

B We often leave out for (but not usually in negative sentences):


They’ve been married for ten years. or They’ve been married ten years.
They haven’t had a holiday for ten years. (you need for)
You can use in instead of for in negative sentences (I haven’t … etc.):
They haven’t had a holiday in ten years. (= for ten years)
We do not use for + all … (all day / all my life etc.):
I’ve lived here all my life. (not for all my life)

C Compare when … ? (+ past simple) and how long … ? (+ present perfect):

a: When did it start raining?


b: It started raining an hour ago / at 1 o’clock.
a: How long has it been raining?
b: It’s been raining for an hour / since 1 o’clock.

a: When did Joe and Kate first meet?


⎧ a long time ago.
b: They first met ⎨
⎩ when they were at school.
a: How long have they known each other?
⎧
b: They’ve known each other ⎨ for a long time.
⎩ since they were at school.

D We say: it’s (= it is) a long time


since something happened
or it’s been (= it has been) six months (etc.)

It’s two years since I last saw Joe. or It’s been two years since …
(= I haven’t seen Joe for two years)
It’s ages since we went to the cinema. or It’s been ages since …
(= We haven’t been to the cinema for ages)
How long is it since Mrs Hill died? or How long has it been since …
(= when did she die?)

24 How long have you (been) … ? ➜ Unit 11


Unit
Exercises 12
12.1 Write for or since.
1 It’s been raining since lunchtime.
2 Paul has lived in Brazil ten years.
3 I’m tired of waiting. We’ve been sitting here an hour.
4 Kevin has been looking for a job he left school.
5 I haven’t been to a party ages.
6 I wonder where Joe is. I haven’t seen him last week.
7 Jane is away on holiday. She’s been away Friday.
8 The weather is dry. It hasn’t rained a few weeks.
12.2 Look at each answer and choose the right question.
1 How long have they been married ?
Ten years ago.
When did they get married?
(When did they get married? is correct)
2 How long have you had this car?
About five years.
When did you buy this car?

3 How long have you been waiting?


Only a few minutes.
When did you get here?

4 How long have you been doing your course?


September.
When did your course start?

5 How long has Anna been in London?


Last week.
When did Anna arrive in London?

6 How long have you known each other?


A long time.
When did you first meet each other?

12.3 Read the situations and complete the sentences.


1 It’s raining. It’s been raining since lunchtime. It started raining at lunchtime.
2 Ann and Jess are friends. They first met years ago. They’ve known each other for years.
3 Mark is unwell. He became ill on Sunday. He has Sunday.
4 Sarah is married. She’s been married for a year. She got .
5 You have a headache. It started when you woke up.
I’ve I woke up.
6 Sue is in a meeting at work. It’s been going on since 9 o’clock.
The meeting at 9 o’clock.
7 You’re working in a hotel. You started working there six months ago.
I’ve been .
8 Kate is learning Japanese. She’s been doing this for a long time.
Kate started .
12.4 Complete B’s sentences.
A B

1 Do you often go on holiday? No, I haven’t had a holiday for five years.
2 Have you seen Lisa recently? No, I about a month.
3 Do you still go swimming regularly? No, I a long time.
4 Do you still ride a bike these days? No, I ages.

Now write B’s answers again. This time use It’s . . . since . . . .
5 (1) No, it’s five years since I last had a holiday.
6 (2) No, it’s
7 (3) No,
8 (4)
25

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