HOME > WordMaster® > SINCE vs. FOR | ～から vs. ～の間
2008.10.20
Greetings!
We're going to spend the entire week looking at commonly confused words, which means that each day you'll actually be getting two topics in one. So prepare to jump-start your English with a double shot of Berlitz WordMaster!
SINCE vs. FOR ～から vs. ～の間
- Since can be used to say that something has continued from a particular time in the past until now (for example, “since last year” or “since I graduated”).
For is used to talk about how long (= the amount of time) something continues (for example, “for two weeks”).
Be Careful[1]! Since is followed by a particular time (or event) when something began. For is followed by an amount of time.
Be Careful[2]! Since is normally used with verbs in the perfect tenses (for example, “has done,” “have been doing,” etc.). - since は、過去の特定の時から現在まで継続していることを表す場合に使われます。（例えば、since last year や since I graduated など）
for は、どのくらいの時間、継続しているかを表す場合に使われます。（例えば、for two weeks など）
注意１： since の後には、何かが始まったときの、特定の時間または出来事が続きます。for の後には、時間が続きます。
注意２： since は普通、完了時制の動詞とともに使います。（例えば、 has done や have been doing など）
- I've been waiting since 9 o'clock.
- We haven't gotten together since the reunion.
- Darlene and I have known each other since we were kids.
- I'll be away from my desk for a few hours. I'm meeting a client in Hibiya.
- He's been holding his breath for 3 minutes now. That's a new record!
Wishing you well!