for and since — when…? and how long…?
Period vs Point · Past Simple vs Present Perfect · It's … since
for et since — when…? et how long…?
Durée vs Point de départ · Passé Simple vs Présent Parfait · It's … since
Master the difference between for (a period) and since (a starting point), and know when to use when vs how long
Maîtrisez la différence entre for (une durée) et since (un point de départ), et sachez quand utiliser when vs how long
Both for and since tell us how long something has been happening, but they work differently. For goes with a period of time; since goes with a starting point. This unit also clarifies when to use when…? (past simple) vs how long…? (present perfect), and the useful structure It's / It's been … since …
For et since indiquent tous les deux depuis combien de temps quelque chose dure, mais ils fonctionnent différemment. For s'utilise avec une durée ; since avec un point de départ. Cette unité clarifie aussi l'utilisation de when…? vs how long…?, et la structure It's / It's been … since …
for + Period of Time · since + Starting Point
for + Durée · since + Point de Départ
for + a period (how long the duration lasts). since + the moment it started (a clock time, date, or event).
for + une durée. since + le moment où ça a commencé (heure, date, événement).
for — period of time
for — durée
since — starting point
since — point de départ
Omitting for · Using in · Not for + all …
Omettre for · Utiliser in · Pas for + all …
1. for can be omitted in positive sentences, but not in negative ones. 2. In negative sentences, in can replace for. 3. Never use for with all day / all my life etc.
1. for peut être omis dans les phrases positives, mais pas dans les négatives. 2. Dans les phrases négatives, in peut remplacer for. 3. Ne jamais utiliser for avec all day / all my life.
Needed in negatives: They haven't had a holiday for ten years.
in = for (negatives only): They haven't had a holiday in ten years.
NOT for + all: I've lived here all my life. (NOT for all my life)
when…? (Past Simple) vs how long…? (Present Perfect)
when…? (Passé Simple) vs how long…? (Présent Parfait)
When…? asks about the start point → answer with the past simple. How long…? asks about duration → answer with the present perfect + for/since.
When…? demande le point de départ → passé simple. How long…? demande la durée → présent parfait + for/since.
when…? → past simple
when…? → passé simple
how long…? → present perfect
how long…? → présent parfait
It's / It's been … since … — How Long Since Something Happened
It's / It's been … since … — Depuis combien de temps quelque chose s'est produit
To say how much time has passed since an event, use: It's (= it is) / It's been (= it has been) + time + since + past simple.
Pour dire combien de temps s'est écoulé depuis un événement : It's / It's been + durée + since + passé simple.
It's been ages since we went to the cinema. = We haven't been for ages.
How long is it / has it been since Mrs Hill died?
Exercise 1 — Write for or since
Exercice 1 — Écrivez for ou since
Exercise 2 — Choose the right question (when or how long)
Exercice 2 — Choisissez la bonne question
Look at the answer and write the correct question.
Regardez la réponse et écrivez la bonne question.
Exercise 3 — Complete the sentences from the situations
Exercice 3 — Complétez les phrases
Use the correct tense and preposition.
Utilisez le bon temps et la bonne préposition.
Exercise 4 — Rewrite using "It's … since …"
Exercice 4 — Reformulez avec "It's … since …"
Example: I haven't had a holiday for five years → It's five years since I last had a holiday.
Frequently Asked Questions — for and since
Questions fréquentes — for et since
for + a period: for two hours, for six months, for ages. since + a starting point: since Monday, since 2019, since I was a child.
for + une durée. since + un point de départ.
No — "three days" is a period, not a point. Use for three days. Use since with specific points: since Monday, since 8 o'clock, since I arrived.
Non — "three days" est une durée. Utilisez for three days.
When…? → past simple answer: It started at 1 o'clock. How long…? → present perfect + for/since: It's been raining for an hour.
When…? → passé simple. How long…? → présent parfait + for/since.
= I haven't seen him for two years. Both It's and It's been are correct. The verb after since is always past simple.
= Je ne l'ai pas vu depuis deux ans. Les deux formes sont correctes. Le verbe après since est toujours au passé simple.
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