Prepositions
for & since

Presentation

Conversación

Cruz Medoza, M. (2016).



Have you ever listened to expressions like: “I have been waiting for you during four hours? “I’ve been here since yesterday”…

Did you notice the difference between each one? If you still have questions about it, in this topic you will learn how to use the time expressions for and since.

It is important that you know the usage of these two prepositions because in our daily speech we talk about events and the periods of time.

In this topic you’re going to answer several exercises focused on these prepositions in order to improve the usage of them in the correct way so that you can tell experiences correctly.




Objective

By the end of the topic, you will
• Be able to identify the prepositions For and Since in Present Perfect sentences to talk about the duration of the activities and travel experiences.

Look at the following information, it will help you to understand better the use of for and since.



FOR
and SINCE are used to say how long

FOR + period

Period means, duration of time, for example: 5 minutes, 3 weeks, 4 years.

FOR: from the beginning of a period until the end of it.

(You can use FOR with all tenses).

Example: They have been waiting outside Anne Frank’s house for 2 hours.

Waiting outside school

s.a. (2013). Trip Report. [photo].
Taken from: http://clearedready.blogspot.mx/2013/06/trip-report-amsterdam-2013-anne-franks.html



Examples: Listen to the sentences by clicking on the audio icon:

 




  • Matilda has been in Amsterdam for one year.
  • We’ve been in England for seven months.
  • I’ve lived in Paris for a long time.

SINCE + the start of a period

Beginning of a period means a precise moment in time, for example, 7 o’clock, 9th March, Friday.

SINCE: from a point in the past until now.

(You use since with perfect tense).

Example: I have lived in Berlin since December.

Berlin

s.a. (2015). Berlin. [photo]. Taken from: https://pixabay.com/en/the-bundestag-flag-monument-berlin-647939/2013-anne-franks.html



Examples: Listen to the sentences by clicking on the audio icon:




  • Kevin has been in Bruges since November.
  • We’ve been waiting in Munich Airport since 10.00 in the morning.
  • She’s lived in Belgium since she was born.
  • She’s been studying French since she was 15 years old.



Reading

Activity 1

Around the world

In the following text you will read about Eduardo’s job, you have to think which preposition better fits according to the context of the reading.

Read the text and drag the correct answer in the spaces provided.


Listening

Activity 2

What have you done?

We are exploring prepositions For and Since in this activity. You are going to listen to some sentences in the present perfect listen carefully so, can catch updates and prepositions.

Listen to the audio and drag the answers into the blank spaces.

Click here to hear audio:




Check the transcript here.


Writing

Activity 3

Memories

Think about your latest trips, remember all the details, keep on mind those memories and follow the instructions below.

Write a paragraph about travel experiences that you have had. Use present perfect tense and prepositions for and since as needed.

Example:

These last years I have travelled around my country. I have visited many places since I left school. For instance, I’ve been to La Riviera Maya several times. On our last visit, my family and I took a tour to Tulum, where we admired the ruins surrounded by the Caribbean Sea. I don’t know how this happened, but Tulum has become one of our favourite touristic places since 2013. Since then we have swum in a large number of cenotes. My parents love the sea, for the last three years, we have spent some New Year’s Eve in Playa del Carmen. Of course, we have not missed Chichen Itzá where is an excellent option to have adventure walk.

Please, make sure it has the characteristics contained in this checklist.




Speaking

Activity 4

Interview
Interview

As you know, it is essential to know about culture and general information. So, in the following activity, you will have to surf the Net and look for an image of a famous person (your favourite or another you want to know about).

Your task is to interview him/her. This means that you have to search and find relevant information.

Look at the questions below: Write them down and use them to find the information you need to answer those questions. Don't forget that you have to record your interview.

Here are the questions:

  1. How long have you been in this city?
  2. Have long have you been in the school?
  3. How long have you been up today?
  4. How long have you known your best friend?
  5. How long have you had your computer?
  6. How long have you studied English?
  7. How long have you been married?


Please, make sure it has the characteristics contained in the rubric, then as a self-evaluation compare your interview to this example.





Self-assessment

Exercise 1

Check your knowledge

Exercise 2

Length of time

Exercise 3

Complete the following rules

References

Complementary

  • Hewings, M. (2005). Advanced English Grammar in Use. U.K.