⏰ Why These Three Are Proper Confusing
These three little words all deal with time, but they're used in completely different ways. It's like having three different keys for three different doors - use the wrong one and you're locked out of making sense! Let's sort this mess out once and for all.
FOR
Shows DURATION - how long something lasts
Examples:
- I've lived here for 10 years (duration)
- We waited for 2 hours (how long)
- She's been studying for ages
- I'm going away for the weekend
- He's been working for 8 hours straight
SINCE
Shows STARTING POINT - when something began
Examples:
- I've lived here since 2014 (starting point)
- We've been waiting since 3 o'clock
- She's been studying since this morning
- I haven't seen him since last week
- It's been raining since yesterday
FROM
Shows STARTING POINT with an END POINT
Examples:
- The shop is open from 9 to 5
- I work from Monday to Friday
- The course runs from January to June
- We're here from 2pm until 6pm
- The sale is from today until Sunday
Visual Timeline Guide
Think of time like a bloody timeline - here's how each word works:
SINCE
Starting point
→
⏱
FOR
Duration
→
FROM...TO
Start to end
Memory Tricks:
- FOR = Duration: "FOR how long– - 2 hours, 3 days, 10 years
- SINCE = Starting point: "SINCE when– - since Monday, since 2020, since this morning
- FROM = Range: "FROM when to when– - from 9 to 5, from Monday to Friday
Common Bloody Mistakes
I live here since 10 years
I've lived here FOR 10 years
I live here for 2014
I've lived here SINCE 2014
Open since 9 to 5
Open FROM 9 to 5
I work from 8 hours
I work FOR 8 hours
Waiting for Monday
Waiting SINCE Monday
Course runs since January to June
Course runs FROM January to June
Test Your Time Skills!
1. I've been learning English _____ 5 years.
2. She's been working here _____ 2019.
3. The office is open _____ 9am _____ 6pm.
4. I haven't seen him _____ last Tuesday.
5. We're going on holiday _____ two weeks.
6. The course runs _____ September _____ December.
7. It's been snowing _____ this morning.
8. I studied _____ 3 hours straight!
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