Welcome to twominenglish.com. Teaching you English through two-minute lessons.
In this lesson we will learn how to use the words ‘for’ and ‘since’.
The words ‘for’ and ‘since’ are both used to speak about time.
But they are used in two different specific situations, Jim.
‘For’ is used to speak of any amount of time in the present, past or future. For example:
She lived in Jersey for 10 years.
The astronauts will stay on the space station for a month.
‘Since’ is used when we speak about a time when something started. It refers to the past which affects the present in most of the cases. For example:
They have been friends since childhood.
Since we last met, important things have happened to me.
Thank you for the examples, Grace. But ‘for’ and ‘since’ are also used to speak of things not related to time, aren’t they?.
Yes Jim! ‘For’ can also be used to show us who will benefit from an action. For example:
I bought the books for you.
Today I’m cleaning the house for you.
That’s right. And ‘since’ can be used to indicate a particular thing because of which something happened or occurred. It means ‘because’. For example:
Since there’s no more work, I’m going home.
Thank you for the examples.
Let’s listen to some conversations now.
The damn train is late again! I have been waiting for hours.
For how many hours have you been waiting?
I’ve been here for almost 2 hours!
Gosh...So you’re in the station since morning?
It’s irritating! I’ve been waiting here since 7 in the morning.
Let me buy something for my mother, Martin.
Since I’ll have to wait in the market, I’ll buy something too.
Why don’t you buy a new phone to your dad? You told me that his was old.
I’ll buy the phone some other time, since I don’t have so much money right now.
I could pay it for you, if you want it.
Nah, but thanks for the offering.
Hey Martin. What did you buy the ball for? We don’t play anymore.
I was at the market today and I saw this soccer ball. I got it for my son.
Maybe we can play too. We haven’t played football for years!
Yes, Robin! Since 2008.
You’re correct! Martin. Let’s play football tomorrow.
She lived in Jersey for 10 years.
The astronauts will stay on the space station for a month.
They have been friends since childhood.
Since we last met, important things have happened to me.
I bought the books for you.
For how many hours have you waited?
Since there’s no more work, I’m going home.
Since I’ll have to wait in the market, I’ll buy something too.
We haven’t played football for years!