Present Perfect + for and since

PRESENT PERFECT + for, since

Using the present perfect, we can define a period of time before now by considering its duration,with for + a period of time, or by considering its starting point, with since + a point in time.

For + a period of time

for six years, for a week, for a month, for hours, for two hours.

I have worked here for five years.

Since + a point in time

since this morning, since last week, since yesterday,

since I was a child, since Wednesday, since 2 o'clock.

I have worked here since 1990.

present perfect with for

She has lived here for twenty years.

We have taught at this school for a long time.

Alice has been married for three months.

They have been at the hotel for a week.

present perfect with since

She has lived here since 1980.

We have taught at this school since 1965

Alice has been married since March 2nd.

They have been at the hotel since last Tuesday.

Note:

For and since can both be used with the past perfect.

Since can only be used with perfect tenses, for can also be used with the

simple past.

1. GramaticaEngleza.com FOR si SINCE

2. GramaticaEngleza.com FOR arata durata unei actiuni, iar SINCE arata

inceputul unei actiuni.

3. GramaticaEngleza.com FOR se pune atunci cand indicam o perioada de

timp. Pe FOR il putem intalni cel mai des cu un numeral, in formulari de felul urmator: for

a week = (timp) de o saptamana for ten days = (timp) de zece zile for three months =

(timp) de trei luni for five minutes = (timp) de cinci minute for two centuries = (timp) de

doua secole etc.

4. GramaticaEngleza.com FOR se mai intalneste si in urmatoarele expresii: for a

while = de scurt timp for a long time = de mult timp, de multa vreme for a long while = de

mult timp, de multa vreme for a short time = de scurt timp, de scurta vreme for a short

while = de scurt timp, de scurta vreme for a few days/ years/ weeks… = (timp) de cateva

zile/ ani/ saptamani… for many days/ years/ weeks… = (timp) de multe zile/ ani/

saptamani… for ages = de un car de ani, de o vesnicie (evident la figurat)

5. GramaticaEngleza.com SINCE se pune atunci cand indicam inceputul unei

perioade de timp. SINCE arata de cand anume incepe o anumita actiune. SINCE se

foloseste in exprimari de genul urmator: since 1987 = din 1987 since July = din iulie

since lunchtime = din timpul pranzului since the beginning of the lesson = de la inceputul

lectiei since 10 o’clock = de la ora 10 since Wednesday = de miercuri since my friends

arrived = de cand au sosit prietenii mei since I was a child = de cand eram copil since we

graduated high school = de cand am absolvit liceul etc. Atentie !  SINCE se poate folosi

inclusiv cu propozitii .  In propozitia introdusa prin “since” avem verbul la Past Simple !

6. GramaticaEngleza.com FOR si SINCE sunt specifice timpurilor perfecte

(Present Perfect, Past Perfect, Future Perfect).

7. GramaticaEngleza.com Exemple: I haven’t seen him for ages. =>  Present

Perfect Simple (Nu l-am vazut de un car de vreme.) We have been friends since the

beginning of the school year. =>  Present Perfect Continuous (Suntem prieteni de la

inceputul anului scolar.) He had been trying to repair the car for fifty minutes by the time

the mechanic arrived. =>  Past Perfect Continuous (Incercase sa repare masina timp de

50 de minute pana cand a sosit mecanicul.) They had been married since 1970 when her

husband died. =>  Past Perfect Simple (Fusesera casatoriti din 1970 cand sotul ei a

murit.)

8. GramaticaEngleza.com The girls will have been making cookies for three hours

by the time their guests arrive. =>  Future Perfect Continuous (Fetele vor face prajiturele

de trei ore pana cand vor sosi musafirii.) The books will have been there since June by

the time she finally notices them. =>  Future Perfect Simple (Cartile vor fi acolo din iunie

pana cand, in cele din urma, le va observa si ea.)

The Difference Between "since" and "for"

We use both since and for to say how long something has been happening:

I've been waiting for you since 8 o'clock.

I've been  waiting for you for two hours.

We use "since" when we say the beginning of the period (8 o'clock).

We use "for" when we say the period of time (two hours).

 Since  For

8 o'clock         1977Monday          Christmas12 may           lunchtimeApril               we arrived

two hours       a weekten minutes    five years three days      a longtimesix months   ages

She's been working  here since April. (= from April until now)

She's been  working  here for six mounths. (not  'since six months ')

I haven't seen Tom since Monday . (= form Monday  until now)

I haven't seen Tom  for three day. (not 'since three days ')

We do not use for in expressions with all (all day / all morning / all week / all may life etc.)

I've lived here all my life .(not 'for all my life')

Note the structure How long is it since ...?

A: How long is it since you had a holiday ?

B : it's been two years since  I had a holiday . (= I haven't had a holiday for two years.)

It's ages since Tom visited us. (= He hasn't visited us for ages

Exercise

Complete the sentences below with since or for !

1. It's  been  snowing............. I got up this morning.

2. Tom's father has been a doctor ........... 20 years.

3.  Have  you been learning English .............. a long time ?

4.  ........ Christmas, the weather has been quite mild.

5.  Ann has been on holiday ............ five days.

6. That 's a very old bike. I've had it ......... ages.

What's the difference? Present Perfect and Past Simple

Present Perfect Simple Past Simple

Unfinished actions that started in the past

and continue to the present:

I've known Julie for ten years (and I still

know her).

Finished actions:

I knew Julie for ten years (but then she moved

away and we lost touch).

A finished action in someone's life (when

the person is still alive: life experience):

My brother has been to Mexico three times.

A finished action in someone's life (when the

person is dead):

My great-grandmother went to Mexico three

times.

A finished action with a result in the

present:

I've lost my keys! (The result is that I can't

get into my house now).

A finished action with no result in the present:

I lost my keys yesterday. It was terrible! (Now

there is no result. I got new keys yesterday).

With an unfinished time word (this week,

this month, today):

I've seen John this week.

With a finished time word (last week, last

month, yesterday):

I saw John last week.

Using the Present Perfect

When should we use the present perfect tense?

This is one of the most difficult tenses to use correctly. I hope

the rules below are helpful:

We use this tense for unfinished and finished actions:Unfinished Actions

We use this tense when we want to talk about unfinished actions that started in the past

and continue to the present. Usually we use it to say 'how long' an action or state has

continued with 'since' and 'for'. Often, we use stative verbs in this situation:

I've known Karen since 1994.

She's lived in London for three years.

'Since' and 'For'

We use 'since' with a fixed time in the past (2004, April 23rd, last year, two hours ago).

The fixed time can be another action, indicated with the past simple (since I was at

school, since I arrived):

I've known Sam since 1992.

I've liked chocolate since I was a child.

She's been here since 2pm.

We use 'for' with a period of time (2 hours, three years, six months):

I've known Julie for ten years.

I've been hungry for hours.

She's had a cold for a week.

Finished Actions

1: Life experience 

(we don't say when the experience happened, just sometime in the past)

I have been to Tokyo.

She has lived in Germany.

They have visited Paris three times.

We have never seen that film.

Have you ever read 'War and Peace'?

2: A finished action with a result in the present (focus on result)

I've lost my keys (so I can't get into my house).

She's hurt her leg (so she can't play tennis today).

They've missed the bus (so they will be late).

I've cooked dinner (so you should come and eat).

3: With an unfinished time word (this month, this week, today, in the last year)

I haven't seen her this month.

She's drunk three cups of coffee today.

This week they've been shopping four times.

Note: We can't use the present perfect with a finished time word:

'Been' and 'Gone'

In this tense, we use both 'been' and 'gone' as the past participle of 'go', but in slightly

different circumstances.

Been

We use 'been' (often when we talk about 'life experience') to mean that the person being

talked about has visited the place, and come back. Notice the preposition 'to':

I've been to Paris (in my life, but now I'm in London, where I live).

She has been to school today (but now she's back at home).

They have never been to California.

Gone

We use 'gone' (often when we are talking about an action with a result in the present) to

mean that the person is at the place now:

'Where's John?' 'He's gone to the shops' (he's at the shops now).

Julie has gone to Mexico (now she's in Mexico).

They've gone to Japan for three weeks (now they're in Japan).

The Present Perfect Simple Tense

How to form the present perfect

To make the positive present perfect tense, use:

'have' / 'has' + the past participle

Make the past participle by adding 'ed' to regular verbs (for example, 'play' becomes

'played')

There are a few verbs that change their spelling when you add 'ed' (for example, 'study'

becomes 'studied')

We also have some completely irregular verbs

(Also, here's some help if you are not sure how to pronounce '-ed'   at the end of a verb).

Positive Positive Short Form

I have played I've played

you have worked you've worked

he has written he's written

she has walked she's walked

it has rained it's rained

we have travelled we've travelled

they have studied they've studied

Try an exercise about the positive form here

The negative is really simple too. Just put 'not' after 'have' or 'has':

Negative Negative Short Form

I have not eaten breakfast today I haven't eaten

you have not been to Asia you haven't been

he has not seen the new film he hasn't seen

she has not played tennis she hasn't played

it has not snowed this winter it hasn't snowed

we have not slept all night we haven't slept

they have not tried the food they haven't tried

Try an exercise about the negative form hereTo make a question, put 'have' or 'has' in front of the subject:

'Yes / No' Questions

have I missed the bus?

have you visited London?

has he worked as a waiter before?

has she met John?

has it been cold this week?

have we arrived too early?

have they studied English grammar before?

As you can imagine, for 'wh' questions, we just put the question word before 'have' or 'has':

'Wh' Questions

where have I left my umbrella?

what have you done today?

why has he gone already?

where has she been in the UK?

why has it rained so much this summer?

what have we done?

where have they learned English before?

Present perfect and continuous - Prezent perfect si continuu

1. Prezent perfect

Prezentul perfect (Present perfect), este una dintre particularitatile limbii 

engleze, acest timp nu are corespondent in limba romana.

Ca definitie, prezentul perfect exprima o actiune terminata in trecut sau o 

actiune din trecut ce continua si in momentul prezent.

Acesta se formeaza cu prezentul auxiliarului have (have/ has) + participiul

trecut al verbului (regulat sau neregulat). Adesea, auxiliarul have este folosit 

alaturi de subiect cu forma prescurtata 've.

Exemplu:

I've seen your picture. - Ti-am vazut poza. (am vazut-o deja)

You have worked hard. - Ai muncit din greu. (si inca muncesti)

She has painted a picture. - Ea a pictat un tablou. (a pictat deja un tablou)

Forma negativa se formeaza cu not intre auxiliarul have /has si participiul trecut

al verbului. Auxiliarul have / has impreuna cu not se folosesc adesea cu forma 

prescurtata haven't / hasn't.

I haven't (have not) been to Spain. - Nu am fost in Spania.

She has not (hasn't) played football. - Ea nu a jucat fotbal.

Forma interogativa se formeaza prin inversiunea dintre auxiliarul have / has si 

subiect.

Have you worked here? - Ati lucrat aici?

Has she written the letter? - A scris ea scrisoarea?

Conjugare

I have walked - Eu m-am plimbat

you have walked - Tu te-ai plimbat

He has walked - El se-a plimbat

she has walked - Ea s-a plimbat

it has walked - S-a plimbat

we have walked - Noi ne-am plimbat

you have walked - Voi v-ati plimbat

they have walked - Ei s-au plimbat

Exemple:

I have read a book every week. - Am citit o carte in fiecare saptamana. (si continui sa

citesc)

You have won this race. - Aţi câştigat această cursă. (ati castigat-o deja)

How long has it been since the last time we met? - Cat a trecut de cand ne-am intalnit

ultima data?

Functii

De retinut:

- Prezentul perfect este un timp apartinand prezentului. El face legatura dintre 

trecut si prezent. Dar accentul se pune pe momentul vorbirii, pe acum.

Prezentul perfect exprima:

- O actiune incheiata la un moment nedefinit in trecut, sau o actiune din trecut 

care se extinde si in momentul prezent.

I have walked three miles already - Am mers deja 3 mile. (dar continui sa merg).

She has visited the botanical garden. - Ea a vizitat gradina botanica. (ea a vazut-o deja,

demult).

They have wetted the flowers since 5 o'clock. - Ei au udat florile incepand cu (de la) ora

5. (si continua sa le ude).

- Actiuni sau evenimente din trecut care conduc pana in momentul prezent. In 

acest caz, folosirea timpului prezent perfect arata ca rezultatul evenimetului sau 

actiunii care apartine momentului prezent este cel care conteaza si nu momentul 

in care a avut loc actiunea.

He has bought a new flower. - El a cumparat o noua floare. (si acum are o noua floare)

They have been to Mexico but they have not been to Japan. - Ei au fost in Mexic, dar ei

nu au fost si in Japonia. (in consecinta, au cunostinte despre Mexic dar nu stiu prea multe

despre Japonia)

- Obiceiuri sau evenimente si actiuni frecvente in decursul unei perioade de timp 

care conduc la momentul prezentului.

She has studied English for four years. - Ea a studiat limba engleză timp de patru ani. (si

inca mai studiaza engleza)

Influenta adverbelor

Alegerea intre prezentul perfect si trecutul simplu este de multe ori 

influentata si de adverbele care insotesc verbul. Daca adverbele respective se 

refera la o perioada trecuta, trebuie folosit trecutul simplu.

I studied all night. /yesterday /on Wednesday - Am studiat toata noaptea. /ieri /miercuri

Cu adverbe care marcheaza un inceput in trecut si conduc pana la momentul 

prezentului, se foloseste prezentul perfect.

I have studied up to now. /lately /already - Am invatat pana acum. /de curand /deja

Expresii adverbiale cum ar fi: today (azi), this month (luna aceasta), for an

hour (timp de o ora), etc.; se pot folosi atat cu prezentul perfect cat si cu trecutul 

simplu.

I worked /have worked hard today. - Am muncit mult azi.

Exista tendinta de a folosi prezentul perfect pentru a anunta un eveniment din 

trecutul recent.

The teacher has encouraged often his students - Profesorul a încurajat adesea pe elevii

săi.

Dar vom folosi trecutul simplu pentru a relata sau anunta evenimente care au luat 

sfarsit si apartin trecutului indepartat.

Newton discovered the gravity law. - Newton a descoperit legea gravitatiei.

Prezentul perfect - exercitii

2. Prezent perfect continuu

Si aceasta forma verbala apartine timpului prezent si se raporteaza la 

momentul prezent.

Prezentul perfect continuu (Present perfect continuous) se foloseste pentru 

actiuni, stari, sentimente începute în trecut si care se desfasoara si în prezent, 

poate si în viitor.

Este adesea folosit cu expresii adverbiale ca: for ages (de multă vreme), for three

hours (de trei ore), since 19... (din anul 19...), since last year (de anul

trecut), recently (recent), lately (in ultimul timp)

Prezent perfect continuu se formeaza cu ajutorul formei: Have/has + been +

participiul prezent (-ing).

It has been raining for two days (and it's still raining). - Ploua de doua zile (si inca mai

ploua).

I have been reading since this morning. - Citesc de azi dimineata. (si inca mai citesc)

De retinut:

- Diferenta dintre forma prezentului perfect simplu si cea a prezentului perfect 

continuu este aceea ca forma continua pune accentul mai mult pe durata actiunii 

sau a starii ce se desfasoara de ceva timp, pe cand la perfectul simplu accentul e 

pus pe actiunea desfasurata.

Forma negativa - se adauga not intre auxiliarul have / has si been. Adesea, in locul 

constuctiei have not / has not se foloseste forma prescurtata haven't / hasn't.

It has not / hasn't been raining for 2 weeks. - Nu mai ploua de 2 saptamani.

Forma interogativa se obtine prin inversiunea auxiliarului have /has cu subiectul.

Have you been reading since this morning? - Cititi de azi dimineata?

Conjugare

I have been walking - Eu ma plimb

you have been walking - Tu te plimbi

He has been walking - El se plimba

she has been walking - Ea se plimba

it has been walking - Se plimba

we have been walking - Noi ne plimbam

you have been walking - Voi va plimbati

they have been walking - Ei se plimba

Exemplu:

They have been playing tennis for half an hour. - Ei joacă tenis de o jumătate de oră.

De retinut:

For

- poate fi folosit atat cu trecutul simplu cat si cu formele perfecte (prezent, trecut, viitor 

perfect).

- are sensul de: in timpul, pe durata, timp de.

Since

- se foloseste doar cu formele perfecte.

- are sensul de "incepand de la un moment dat".

Prezent perfect continuu - exercitii