These since - for exercises help you better understand time expressions in English grammar. Check the answers after you have completed each exercise. A PDF worksheet is available to download for free.
Exercise 1: since or for
Complete each sentence with since or for.
1. I have lived in this city 2010.
I have lived in this city since 2010.
2. She has been studying English three years.
She has been studying English for three years.
3. We have known each other a long time.
We have known each other for a long time.
4. He has worked in this company last January.
He has worked at this company since last January.
5. They have been married ten years.
They have been married for ten years.
6. I haven’t seen him last summer.
I haven’t seen him since last summer.
7. She has been waiting two hours.
She has been waiting for two hours.
8. We haven’t had a holiday months.
We haven’t had a holiday for months.
9. He has been sick last night.
He has been sick since last night.
10. They have been playing football two hours.
They have been playing football for two hours.
Exercise 2: multiple-choice questions
Choose since or for to complete each sentence.
1. I’ve been learning Spanish ______ six months.
I’ve been learning Spanish for six months.
2. She has lived here ______ 2015.
She has lived here since 2015.
3. We haven’t spoken to each other ______ two weeks.
We haven’t spoken to each other for two weeks.
4. He has been away ______ Monday.
He has been away since Monday.
5. I have worked in this office ______ ten years.
I have worked in this office for ten years.
6. They have been friends ______ childhood.
They have been friends since childhood.
7. She has been cooking ______ an hour.
She has been cooking for an hour.
8. He has been feeling unwell ______ the morning.
He has been feeling unwell since the morning.
9. We have waited ______ 30 minutes.
We have waited for 30 minutes.
10. She has played the piano ______ she was five.
She has played the piano since she was five.
5. Since - for worksheet
In this worksheet, you will complete 13 sentences using since or for. Click the toggle arrow below to check your answers.
- 1. What have you done since we last spoke?
- 2. He has been the company’s CEO since January 2020.
- 3. The use of water resources has increased since the beginning of the twentieth century.
- 4. Donald Trump has been in power since January 20, 2025.
- 5. The fugitive has been on the run for months.
- 6. He hasn’t seen his wife for years.
- 7. Coldplay has been all over the news since the kiss-cam scandal involving Astronomer CEO Andy Byron.
- 8. The Democratic Republic of the Congo has been in conflict for decades.
- 9. Since when have you been learning English?
- 10. My life has changed since the day I met you.
- 11. I’ve been learning English for three months.
- 12. He has been running for two hours.
- 13. We haven’t had internet for weeks.
