Difference Between Since and For Usage: 100 Examples with Meanings

Introduction to Difference Between Since and For Usage

Understanding the difference between since and for usage is very important for English learners, students, and competitive exam candidates. Both “since” and “for” are used to indicate time, but their usage depends on whether we are referring to a point in time or a duration of time. This article explains the difference in detail, provides 100 examples with meanings, and shares useful tips for exams.

Key Difference Between Since and For Usage

• Since is used to indicate a specific point in time (e.g., since 2005, since morning).
• For is used to indicate a period of time or duration (e.g., for 2 years, for 5 hours).

100 Examples Explaining the Difference Between Since and For Usage

Examples with “Since” (Point in Time)

1. I have lived in Hyderabad since 2010. → From 2010 till now.
2. She has been studying since morning. → From morning till now.
3. They have been married since 2005. → From 2005 till now.
4. We have been friends since childhood. → From childhood till now.
5. He has been sick since last Monday. → From last Monday till now.
6. The shop has been open since 9 AM. → From 9 AM till now.
7. I have not seen him since yesterday. → From yesterday till now.
8. She has been playing the piano since she was 10. → From age 10 till now.
9. They have lived in Delhi since March. → From March till now.
10. It has been raining since morning. → From morning till now.
11. He has been working here since 2018. → From 2018 till now.
12. I have been awake since 5 o’clock. → From 5 o’clock till now.
13. She has been happy since her marriage. → From marriage till now.
14. We have been waiting since noon. → From noon till now.
15. They have been practicing since last week. → From last week till now.
16. The child has been crying since an hour ago. → From an hour ago till now.
17. He has not spoken to me since our fight. → From fight till now.
18. I have been using this phone since last year. → From last year till now.
19. They have been in this house since 1999. → From 1999 till now.
20. She has been nervous since the interview. → From interview till now.
21. The workers have been on strike since Monday morning. → From Monday morning till now.
22. I have known him since college days. → From college days till now.
23. They have been celebrating since Diwali night. → From Diwali night till now.
24. She has been sad since her pet died. → From that time till now.
25. I have not eaten anything since breakfast. → From breakfast till now.
26. He has been playing cricket since childhood. → From childhood till now.
27. We have been using this road since 2012. → From 2012 till now.
28. She has been busy since yesterday morning. → From yesterday morning till now.
29. They have been worried since the news came. → From the news till now.
30. He has been in hospital since July. → From July till now.
31. I have trusted her since we first met. → From first meeting till now.
32. She has been quiet since the party. → From party till now.
33. We have been neighbors since 2011. → From 2011 till now.
34. They have been on holiday since last Saturday. → From Saturday till now.
35. He has been jobless since June. → From June till now.
36. I have been waiting for him since 8 o’clock. → From 8 o’clock till now.
37. She has been writing poems since her school days. → From school days till now.
38. They have been in touch since our school reunion. → From reunion till now.
39. I have not driven a car since the accident. → From accident till now.
40. He has been careful since his mistake. → From mistake till now.
41. We have been using computers since 2000. → From 2000 till now.
42. The tradition has continued since ancient times. → From ancient times till now.
43. I have been afraid of water since childhood. → From childhood till now.
44. She has been staying indoors since the storm began. → From storm till now.
45. They have been arguing since morning. → From morning till now.
46. He has been serious since his father’s death. → From that time till now.
47. I have been learning English since last year. → From last year till now.
48. She has been active since her recovery. → From recovery till now.
49. We have been happy since the results were announced. → From results till now.
50. He has been teaching since 2016. → From 2016 till now.

Examples with “For” (Duration of Time)

51. I have lived in Hyderabad for 10 years. → A duration of 10 years.
52. She has been studying for 3 hours. → A duration of 3 hours.
53. They have been married for 20 years. → A duration of 20 years.
54. We have been friends for a long time. → A long duration.
55. He has been sick for two weeks. → A duration of 2 weeks.
56. The shop has been open for 8 hours. → A duration of 8 hours.
57. I have not seen him for months. → A duration of months.
58. She has been playing the piano for many years. → A long duration.
59. They have lived in Delhi for six months. → A duration of six months.
60. It has been raining for two days. → A duration of two days.
61. He has been working here for 5 years. → A duration of 5 years.
62. I have been awake for 12 hours. → A duration of 12 hours.
63. She has been happy for the past week. → A duration of one week.
64. We have been waiting for half an hour. → A duration of 30 minutes.
65. They have been practicing for months. → A duration of months.
66. The child has been crying for 20 minutes. → A duration of 20 minutes.
67. He has not spoken to me for days. → A duration of days.
68. I have been using this phone for two years. → A duration of 2 years.
69. They have been in this house for decades. → A duration of decades.
70. She has been nervous for hours. → A duration of hours.
71. The workers have been on strike for three weeks. → A duration of 3 weeks.
72. I have known him for 15 years. → A duration of 15 years.
73. They have been celebrating for three days. → A duration of 3 days.
74. She has been sad for months. → A duration of months.
75. I have not eaten anything for 6 hours. → A duration of 6 hours.
76. He has been playing cricket for many years. → A long duration.
77. We have been using this road for decades. → A duration of decades.
78. She has been busy for two days. → A duration of 2 days.
79. They have been worried for hours. → A duration of hours.
80. He has been in hospital for three months. → A duration of 3 months.
81. I have trusted her for years. → A duration of years.
82. She has been quiet for a few minutes. → A short duration.
83. We have been neighbors for more than 10 years. → A duration of 10+ years.
84. They have been on holiday for two weeks. → A duration of 2 weeks.
85. He has been jobless for 6 months. → A duration of 6 months.
86. I have been waiting for him for an hour. → A duration of 1 hour.
87. She has been writing poems for 5 years. → A duration of 5 years.
88. They have been in touch for months. → A duration of months.
89. I have not driven a car for two years. → A duration of 2 years.
90. He has been careful for weeks. → A duration of weeks.
91. We have been using computers for 25 years. → A duration of 25 years.
92. The tradition has continued for centuries. → A duration of centuries.
93. I have been afraid of water for years. → A duration of years.
94. She has been staying indoors for a week. → A duration of 1 week.
95. They have been arguing for hours. → A duration of hours.
96. He has been serious for months. → A duration of months.
97. I have been learning English for 2 years. → A duration of 2 years.
98. She has been active for weeks. → A duration of weeks.
99. We have been happy for several days. → A duration of several days.
100. He has been teaching for 7 years. → A duration of 7 years.

Important Tips for Students & Exam Candidates

• Remember:
  • Since = Point in time
  • For = Period of time
• In Perfect Tenses, both “since” and “for” are commonly used.
• “Since” often comes with exact times like 2005, Monday, yesterday morning, 10 AM.
• “For” is followed by numbers or duration expressions like 2 days, 5 hours, many years.
• In competitive exams, questions often test error spotting:
  • Incorrect: I have been here since two years.
  • Correct: I have been here for two years.

FAQs on Difference Between Since and For Usage

Q1. What is the main difference between since and for usage?

Answer: “Since” is used for a point in time, while “for” is used for a duration of time.

Q2. Can we use “since” with Present Perfect Continuous tense?

Answer: Yes. Example: I have been working here since 2015.

Q3. Why is it wrong to say “since two years”?

Answer: Because “two years” is a duration, not a point in time. We should say for two years.

Conclusion on Difference Between Since and For Usage

The difference between since and for usage is simple but very important. Since refers to a point in time, while for refers to a period of time. By practicing with examples and remembering key rules, students can avoid common errors and score well in competitive exams.

Disclaimer on Difference Between Since and For Usage

This article is meant for educational purposes only. The explanations and examples are simplified for students and exam preparation.

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