31473 present perfect for and since

Name: ___________________
Class: ____________
Present Perfect Tense
•

Two main ways the present perfect is used:
o to talk about experiences in our lives and to give news
I have traveled to England.
o to talk about an action that happened in the past and continues up until now
using for and since
He has been a teacher for ten years.

•

Present Perfect Tense is formed with the verb to have + verb in the past participle. The
“regular” way the past participle is formed is by adding –ed. However, there are many
“irregular” forms.
Verb to have
I __________________
you ________________
he/she/it ___________

we _________________
they/you all __________

“Regular” past participle: add –ed or -d
walk ________________
talk _________________
change ______________
work ________________
“Irregular” past participle

buy ________________
see ________________
speak ______________
find ________________
give _______________

•

live __________________
start _________________
end __________________
look __________________

These are just a few examples.
pay _________________
eat __________________
drink _________________
send ___________________
spend _________________

Remember that you can use contractions when using the present perfect in both the affirmative
and negative form.
Example: I have walked a mile.
or
I’ve walked a mile.
They have not seen Sam.
or
They haven’t seen Sam.
He has traveled a lot.
or

He’s traveled a lot.

For & Since with Present Perfect Tense
We often use for and since with the present perfect tense.
• We use for to talk about a period of time - 5 minutes, 2 weeks, 6 years.
• We use since to talk about a point in past time - 9 o'clock, 1st January, Monday.
for

since

a period of time

a point in past time
x------------

20 minutes

6.15pm

three days

Monday

6 months

January

4 years

1994

2 centuries

1800


a long time

I left school

ever

the beginning of time

etc

etc

Here are some examples:
• I have been here for 20 minutes.
• I have been here since 9 o'clock.
• John hasn't called for 6 months.
• John hasn't called since February.
• He has worked in New York for a long time.
• He has worked in New York since he left school.
For can be used with all tenses. Since is usually used with perfect tenses only.

Exercise. Do we use for or since with the following time references?
1. I haven't phoned home (for/since) Christmas.
2.

We've been here (for/since) nine o'clock.

3.

I have worked for International House (for/since) more than eight years.

4.

I haven't visited my home town (for/since) I left school.

5.

I haven't been to the cinema (for/since) ages.

6.

I have studied non-stop (for/since) 9:15.

7.

I have had a driving license (for/since) I was eighteen.

8.

She hasn't had a day off (for/since) 1999.

9.

Johan has been in England (for/since) more than two weeks now.

10. Peter has been my best friend (for/since) we were nine.