Difference Between For and Since: Meanings and Examples

For and Since

For and since in English grammar are two prepositions that help you talk about time. Many students get confused between for and since because both are used to show how long something has been happening. To show the duration or length of time, you should use for in a sentence like "for two hours" or "for five years". It tells you how long something has continued. On the other hand, use since in a sentence when you need to show the starting point of time, like “since Monday” or “since 2010”. It tells us when something began.

Learning the difference between for and since is important because it helps you make correct sentences in English tenses, especially in the present perfect and past perfect tenses. Knowing how to use for in a sentence and how to use since in a sentence can also make your writing and speaking sound natural and clear. Keep reading to learn the difference between for and since with examples.

Read more: Difference Between Ago and Before in English Grammar

For vs Since Meaning

Before learning how to use for and since, it’s important to understand the meaning of for vs since. Both are prepositions of time, but they are used differently in grammar. Check the for vs since meaning here:

For is used to show how long something has been happening. It tells the duration or period of time. For example, I will be on vacation for a month.

• Here, it means the action continues for one month.

• Apart from time, for can also show the purpose of an action, like 'This gift is for you.'

• In grammar, “for” mainly works as a preposition, but sometimes it can also act as a conjunction. 

• For is pronounced as /fɔːr/ in British English and /fɔr/ in American English.

Since is used to show the starting point of time when an action began and continues till now. For example, she has changed a lot since childhood.

• It can also mean ‘because’ when used as a conjunction, such as ‘Since it’s raining, we must postpone the picnic.

• In English grammar, “since” works both as a preposition and a conjunction. It is pronounced as /sɪns/ in both British and American English.

Read More: Top 10 Longest Words in English

Difference Between For and Since

While both are used when talking about actions that started in the past and may still be happening now, the key difference between for and since is given below:

Read More: Adverb Clauses

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For and Since Examples

Understanding the difference between for and since becomes easy when you see how they are used in sentences. Therefore, here are some for and since examples for your reference:

Examples of For:

• I have lived in Delhi for five years.

• She has been studying for two hours.

• We stayed in the park for a while.

• He has worked here for a long time.

Examples of Since:

• I have known her since childhood.

• They have been friends since 2018.

• It has been raining since morning.

• She has not called me since last week.

Also read: Difference Between Adverb and Adjective

For vs Since Practice Questions

Now that you have learnt the meaning and difference between for and since, test your understanding by answering the following questions:

Ques. Fill in the blanks with the correct word: for or since.

1. I have been learning guitar ____two years.

2. She has not visited her grandparents ____ March.

3. They have been watching TV ____ morning.

4. We have known each other ____ a long time.

5. He has been unwell ____ last night.

Answers:

1. for

2. since

3. since

4. for

5. Since

Read More: Common Noun - Definition with Examples

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