For, since and the present perfect
«I have lived here for 5 years», not «I live here since 5 years».
| Word | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| for | + a period of time | for three days, for ten years, for a long time |
| since | + a starting point | since Monday, since 2015, since I was a child |
Present perfect continuous (have been + -ing)
To stress the ongoing activity: I've been waiting for an hour. With state verbs, keep the simple form: I've known her since 2010.
- How long have you been learning English?question about duration up to now
- She's worked here since January.since + starting point
- It's been raining all day.activity continuing up to now
Test yourself
-
Complete: I (know) her for 10 years.
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have known -
Complete: I've lived in Paris ___ 2018.
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since -
Complete: I (wait) for 20 minutes. (continuous)
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have been waiting -
Correct: We are married since 2010.
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We've been married since 2010.