For and Since: 2 Free Printable PDF Exercises for Young Learners, Teenagers, and Adults
For and Since
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For and Since
Learning English grammar can be tricky, but with the right tools, it becomes a lot easier. If you’re looking for free printable grammar exercises to help you understand some of the tricky aspects of English, you’re in the right place! In this post, we’ll focus on two very common yet sometimes confusing words: for and since. By the end of this article, you’ll have a clear understanding of how to use these words correctly, along with access to free printable exercises to help you practice.
Understanding “For” and “Since”
1. When to Use “For”
We use for to talk about a period of time — how long something lasts. It shows the duration or length of an action, event, or situation.
- I have lived in this city for five years.
- She has been studying for two hours.
- We’ve known each other for a long time.
For is typically followed by a length of time, such as:
- For a week
- For three days
- For ages
- For a while
Think of for as referring to the amount of time something has happened or will happen.
2. When to Use “Since”
Since is used when we want to talk about a specific point in time when something started. It focuses on the starting point rather than the duration.
- I have lived in this city since 2018.
- She has been studying since 3 PM.
- We’ve known each other since we were kids.
Since is usually followed by:
- A specific time (since 10 o’clock)
- A specific event (since my birthday)
- A point in the past (since last week)
Think of since as marking the starting point of something — when the action or event began.
3. “For” and “Since” in Questions and Negatives
- Questions with “for”: How long have you lived here for? How long has she been working for that company?
- Questions with “since”: Since when have you lived here? Since when has she been working there?
- Negative sentences: I haven’t seen him for two weeks. She hasn’t been feeling well since last Monday.
Free Printable PDF Exercises
To help you practice using for and since correctly, we’ve created free printable PDF worksheets with exercises. These exercises will help you:
- Fill in the blanks to test your understanding.
- Choose the correct option to strengthen your knowledge.
- Transform sentences to improve your grasp of time expressions.
Final Thoughts
Understanding the difference between for and since is essential for expressing time accurately in English. Whether you’re talking about the duration of an event or its starting point, getting these two words right will make your communication much clearer. Don’t forget to download our free printable PDFs to continue practicing and improving your skills.
Happy learning!
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