4月27日号：For, since and from

When we talk about how long something happens, we often use the words for, since and from. In today’s article, we’ll look at the differences between these words and how we use them in conversation.

We use for to talk about durations like minutes, hours, days and years. We can use for to talk about something that happens in the past, present or future.

◆ I lived in Hokkaido for ten years.

◆ I have been waiting for twenty minutes.

However, we can’t use for to talk about when something starts.

× I worked at a bank for last year.

× He has been working here for January.

We use since to talk about when something started in the past. We can only use since with the present perfect or past perfect tense:

◆ I have been studying English since last year.

◆ She has played the piano since she was five years old.

However, we can’t use since with the past tense, present tense or future tense.

× Summer vacation was since July.

× I was cleaning the living room since this morning.

To talk about when something starts in the past, present or future, we use from. Usually, we also use to or until to show when something ends.

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英会話イーオン東京本社教務課コーディネーター。イーオン教師のトレーニングや英語セミナーを企画制作するカリスマ教師として活躍中。カリフォルニア大学バークレー校卒業。趣味は読書、料理、クラフトワーク。