{"id":5284,"date":"2026-01-27T01:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-27T01:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tutor.engoo.com\/blog\/?p=5284"},"modified":"2026-01-27T01:00:19","modified_gmt":"2026-01-27T01:00:19","slug":"how-to-teach-for-vs-since","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tutor.engoo.com\/blog\/teaching-grammar\/how-to-teach-for-vs-since\/","title":{"rendered":"Explaining the Difference: \"For\" and \"Since\""},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_80 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/tutor.engoo.com\/blog\/teaching-grammar\/how-to-teach-for-vs-since\/#Expressing_Periods_of_Time\" >Expressing Periods of Time<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/tutor.engoo.com\/blog\/teaching-grammar\/how-to-teach-for-vs-since\/#Explaining_a_Reason_or_Cause\" >Explaining a Reason or Cause<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/tutor.engoo.com\/blog\/teaching-grammar\/how-to-teach-for-vs-since\/#Explaining_reasons_using_%E2%80%9Csince%E2%80%9D\" >Explaining reasons using &#8220;since&#8221;<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/tutor.engoo.com\/blog\/teaching-grammar\/how-to-teach-for-vs-since\/#Explaining_reasons_using_%E2%80%9Cfor%E2%80%9D\" >Explaining reasons using &#8220;for&#8221;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/tutor.engoo.com\/blog\/teaching-grammar\/how-to-teach-for-vs-since\/#Practice_Makes_Perfect\" >Practice Makes Perfect<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p>The differences between \"for\" and \"since\" are often subtle. To help clear up any confusion students may experience when using these two words, this article will take a close look at each and offer tips on how to present them in your lessons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Expressing_Periods_of_Time\"><\/span><strong>Expressing Periods of Time<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"602\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/04\/19051450\/debby-hudson-TqKFiMR9O6s-unsplash-1-1024x602.jpg\" alt=\"A calendar and planner showing the days of the month\" class=\"wp-image-5292\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/04\/19051450\/debby-hudson-TqKFiMR9O6s-unsplash-1-1024x602.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/04\/19051450\/debby-hudson-TqKFiMR9O6s-unsplash-1-300x176.jpg 300w, https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/04\/19051450\/debby-hudson-TqKFiMR9O6s-unsplash-1-768x452.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The prepositions \"for\" and \"since\" are used to express periods of time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\"Since\" combined with a specific point in the past<strong> <\/strong>indicates<strong> when a period of time began<\/strong>, such as in the following examples:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>since Monday<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>since last year<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>since 1989<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>since then<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>since it began<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>since childhood<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>since we last met<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>On the other hand, \"for\" is used in combination with a length of time to express <strong>how long something has existed or has been happening<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>for 20 years<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>for a while<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>for a long time<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>for one hour<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>for decades<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>for a few months<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>You can demonstrate the differences in nuance to your students by comparing the two responses to this \"how long\" question.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"unified-block unified-chat-bubble pos-left\"><div class=\"unified-chat-bubble-user\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/02\/22141810\/avatar_30.png\" class=\"unified-chat-bubble-avatar\" width=\"50\" height=\"50\"><div class=\"unified-chat-bubble-name\">Tutor<\/div><\/div><div class=\"unified-chat-bubble-content\"><div class=\"block-align-none\">How long have you known him?<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"unified-block unified-chat-bubble pos-right\"><div class=\"unified-chat-bubble-user\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/02\/22141646\/avatar_17.png\" class=\"unified-chat-bubble-avatar\" width=\"50\" height=\"50\"><div class=\"unified-chat-bubble-name\">Tutee<\/div><\/div><div class=\"unified-chat-bubble-content\"><div class=\"block-align-none\"><strong>Since<\/strong> last summer.<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"unified-block unified-chat-bubble pos-left\"><div class=\"unified-chat-bubble-user\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/02\/22141810\/avatar_30.png\" class=\"unified-chat-bubble-avatar\" width=\"50\" height=\"50\"><div class=\"unified-chat-bubble-name\">Tutor<\/div><\/div><div class=\"unified-chat-bubble-content\"><div class=\"block-align-none\">How long have you known him?<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"unified-block unified-chat-bubble pos-right\"><div class=\"unified-chat-bubble-user\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/02\/22141646\/avatar_17.png\" class=\"unified-chat-bubble-avatar\" width=\"50\" height=\"50\"><div class=\"unified-chat-bubble-name\">Tutee<\/div><\/div><div class=\"unified-chat-bubble-content\"><div class=\"block-align-none\"><strong>For<\/strong> six months.<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>The first response refers to the starting point only, but the second expresses the duration of time, from the start until the present.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>Because it refers to a starting point, \"since\" is used in the perfect tense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>I've been<\/em> at the airport <strong>since<\/strong> noon.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>\"For,\" however, can be used to talk about any time. Try asking your student if they can change the previous example to refer to a past, present or future situation.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>I <em>was<\/em> at the airport <strong>for<\/strong> three hours.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>I've been<\/em> at the airport <strong>for<\/strong> three hours.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>I'll be<\/em> at the airport <strong>for<\/strong> three hours.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Explaining_a_Reason_or_Cause\"><\/span><strong>Explaining a Reason or Cause<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"653\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/04\/19050718\/obi-pixel7propix-rNI-kzGgOxY-unsplash-1-1024x653.jpg\" alt=\"Hamburgers and fries on a table in a restaurant\" class=\"wp-image-5291\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/04\/19050718\/obi-pixel7propix-rNI-kzGgOxY-unsplash-1-1024x653.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/04\/19050718\/obi-pixel7propix-rNI-kzGgOxY-unsplash-1-300x191.jpg 300w, https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/04\/19050718\/obi-pixel7propix-rNI-kzGgOxY-unsplash-1-768x490.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>It's common to use \"because\" when giving a reason, and it can come at the beginning or in the middle of a sentence. \"For\" and \"since\" can be used in the same way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>I prefer eating out <strong>because<\/strong> I'm too lazy to cook.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>Because<\/strong> I'm too lazy to cook, I prefer eating out.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Explaining_reasons_using_%E2%80%9Csince%E2%80%9D\"><\/span><strong>Explaining reasons using &#8220;since&#8221;<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Although it can go at the beginning or in the middle of a sentence, \"because\" is often used in the middle in daily conversations. \"Since,\" however, is common in both positions. It also sounds a little more casual than \"because.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>I prefer to eat out <strong>since<\/strong> I'm too lazy to cook.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>Since<\/strong> I'm too lazy to cook, I prefer to eat out.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>We decided to go to the park <strong>since<\/strong> the weather was nice.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>Since<\/strong> the weather was nice, we decided to go to the park.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Explaining_reasons_using_%E2%80%9Cfor%E2%80%9D\"><\/span><strong>Explaining reasons using &#8220;for&#8221;<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>\"For\" can be used just like the other two, but it sounds uncommonly formal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>For<\/strong> I'm too lazy to cook, I prefer to eat out.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>I prefer to eat out, <strong>for<\/strong> I'm too lazy to cook.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>For<\/strong> he is a good person, he's blessed with many friends.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>He's blessed with many friends, <strong>for<\/strong> he is a good person.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Be sure to point out that while they may read it in a <a href=\"https:\/\/tutor.engoo.com\/blog\/curiosity\/10-of-the-most-translated-books-to-recommend-to-students\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">classic novel<\/a> or hear it in a theater play, students will probably never hear \"for\" used this way in a normal conversation. However, it can be useful to know, even if they don't have an opportunity to use it themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Practice_Makes_Perfect\"><\/span><strong>Practice Makes Perfect<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Once your students understand the unique points of both words, give them a chance to practice by conducting a short interview during the lesson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ask them questions like how long they've been studying English, how long they've been doing their favorite hobby, how long they plan to study overseas, etc., and ask them to answer in both \"for\" and \"since\" sentences (if appropriate).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also quiz them by giving them a \"since\" statement and asking them to rephrase it as a \"for\" statement.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"unified-block unified-chat-bubble pos-left\"><div class=\"unified-chat-bubble-user\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/02\/22141746\/avatar_28.png\" class=\"unified-chat-bubble-avatar\" width=\"50\" height=\"50\"><div class=\"unified-chat-bubble-name\">Tutor<\/div><\/div><div class=\"unified-chat-bubble-content\"><div class=\"block-align-none\">It's been raining here <strong>since Tuesday<\/strong>.<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"unified-block unified-chat-bubble pos-right\"><div class=\"unified-chat-bubble-user\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/02\/22141756\/avatar_29.png\" class=\"unified-chat-bubble-avatar\" width=\"50\" height=\"50\"><div class=\"unified-chat-bubble-name\">Tutee<\/div><\/div><div class=\"unified-chat-bubble-content\"><div class=\"block-align-none\">It's been raining there <strong>for three days<\/strong>.<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"unified-block unified-chat-bubble pos-left\"><div class=\"unified-chat-bubble-user\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/02\/22141746\/avatar_28.png\" class=\"unified-chat-bubble-avatar\" width=\"50\" height=\"50\"><div class=\"unified-chat-bubble-name\">Tutor <\/div><\/div><div class=\"unified-chat-bubble-content\"><div class=\"block-align-none\">I've been playing tennis <strong>since 2020<\/strong>.<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"unified-block unified-chat-bubble pos-right\"><div class=\"unified-chat-bubble-user\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/02\/22141756\/avatar_29.png\" class=\"unified-chat-bubble-avatar\" width=\"50\" height=\"50\"><div class=\"unified-chat-bubble-name\">Tutee<\/div><\/div><div class=\"unified-chat-bubble-content\"><div class=\"block-align-none\">You've been playing tennis <strong>for about six years<\/strong>.<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Exercises like these will help to establish the different usages in their minds, preparing them to use these important words skillfully in real-life situations.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For more on explaining the differences between similar terms, check out the articles focusing on <a href=\"https:\/\/tutor.engoo.com\/blog\/teaching-grammar\/say-vs-tell-how-to-explain-the-difference\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\"Say\"\/\"Tell\"<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/tutor.engoo.com\/blog\/teaching-grammar\/explaining-the-difference-look-see-and-watch\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\"Look\"\/\"See\"\/\"Watch\"<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The differences between \"for\" and \"since\" are often subtle. To help clear up any confusion students may experience when using these two words, this article will take a close look at each and offer tips...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":432,"featured_media":5295,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"ep_exclude_from_search":false,"unified_meta_tagline_field":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[58,43],"tags":[57,84],"class_list":["post-5284","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-teaching-grammar","category-about-online-tutoring","tag-discussion","tag-whats-the-difference"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Explaining the Difference: &quot;For&quot; and &quot;Since&quot; | Engoo Tutor&#039;s Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"&quot;For&quot; and &quot;since&quot; are important for talking about times, but also for giving reasons. 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