How Do 'Since' and 'For' Differ? Correct Usage in the Present Perfect Tense

Since and for often appear with the present perfect tense, but they cannot be interchanged.

The difference is very simple:

Since talks about the starting point.
For talks about the duration.

When to use Since?

Use since when you want to say that an action or state started at a specific point in the past and is still relevant to the present.

I’ve lived here since 2020.
She has worked there since Monday.
We haven’t spoken since last summer.

Since is usually followed by a specific point in time, such as Monday, 2020, last week, I was a child.

Example:

I’ve known her since we were at school.

Here, we were at school is the starting point of the relationship.

When to use For?

Use for when you want to say how long something has lasted.

I’ve lived here for six years.
She has worked there for three months.
We haven’t spoken for a long time.

For is followed by a duration, such as two hours, three days, several years, a long time.

Comparing Since and For

The two sentences below can refer to the same situation:

I’ve studied English since 2022.
I’ve studied English for four years.

The first sentence looks at the starting point.

The second sentence looks at the duration of the period.

So, don't try to memorize that since = from and for = for. Instead, ask yourself:

Am I talking about when it started, or how long it has lasted?

Common Mistakes

Do not say:

I’ve lived here since five years. ❌

Because five years is a duration.

The correct way is:

I’ve lived here for five years. ✅

Similarly:

She has worked here for 2023. ❌
She has worked here since 2023. ✅

Since doesn't always go with just time

Since can also mean "ever since" and precede a clause:

I’ve felt much better since I changed jobs.

Here, I changed jobs is the event marking the starting point of the change.

This is also why you often encounter the structure:

Present Perfect + since + Past Simple

Example:

I haven’t seen him since he moved away.

Conclusion

To distinguish between since and for, just remember:

Since = starting point.
For = duration.

since 2020
for six years

When practicing Dictation on Parroto, pay attention to the entire time phrase instead of just listening for since or for. Hearing them in complete sentences will help you gradually recognize natural structures and use them correctly without translating word-for-word.