Present Perfect with For and Since: A1 English Grammar Guide — A1 English grammar lesson by Langcom

Present Perfect with For and Since: A1 English Grammar Guide

Raúl Maguiña

Fundador da Langcom | Examinador dos exames de Cambridge e SIELE

setembro 24, 2026

A1✏️ Gramática⏱️ 4 min de leitura📅 Atualizado em setembro de 2026
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The Present Perfect tense describes actions that started in the past and continue now, or past actions with a result in the present. Utilizamos for to talk about the *duration* of an action, answering ‘how long?’. For example, I have studied English for two years. This means two years is the total time. We use since to talk about the *starting point* of an action, answering ‘when did it start?’. For instance, I have studied English since 2022. This means 2022 was the beginning. Remember, the Present Perfect is formed with have/has + past participle. Using for e since correctly helps you express how long something has been happening, from its start until now. It’s a key part of A1 English grammar for describing ongoing experiences.

What is the Present Perfect Tense?

The Present Perfect tense helps us talk about actions that started in the past and are still true now. It connects the past with the present.

We form the Present Perfect with have ou has and the past participle of the main verb.

  • I have lived here.
  • She has worked a lot.

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When Do We Use 'For'?

Utilizamos for to say *how long* something has happened. It tells us the total amount of time, or the duration.

Pense em for as answering the question 'How long?'.

  • Utilizamos for with periods of time:
    • for two hours
    • for three days
    • for five years
    • for a long time

When Do We Use 'Since'?

Utilizamos since to say *when* something started. It tells us the exact starting point in time.

Pense em since as answering the question 'When did it start?'.

  • Utilizamos since with specific points in time:
    • since Monday
    • since 2020
    • since last week
    • since I was a child

How Are 'For' and 'Since' Different?

The main difference is that for tells you the length of time, and since tells you the beginning of that time.

  • For = duration (how long)
  • Since = starting point (when it began)

Look at these examples to see the difference clearly:

  • I have lived here for ten years. (Duration: 10 years)
  • I have lived here since 2014. (Starting point: the year 2014)
Comparing 'For' and 'Since'
Para Since
Duration Starting Point
How long? When did it start?
a week Monday
two years 2022
three hours 6 o'clock

Exemplos

  • I have known him for a long time.
  • She has worked at Langcom since January.
  • They have been married for twenty years.
  • We haven't seen them since last summer.
  • He has played the guitar for five months.
  • My brother has lived in London since he finished university.

Prática

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Erros comuns entre falantes de espanhol

A common mistake for Spanish speakers is to use the Present Simple or Past Simple instead of the Present Perfect with for e since.

  • Incorreto: I live here for two years.
  • Correto: I have lived here for two years.

Another mistake is confusing for e since. Remember, for is for the length of time, and since is for the moment it started.

  • Incorreto: I have studied English since three months. (Use for with 'three months' because it's a duration.)
  • Correto: I have studied English for three months.
  • Correto: I have studied English since March. (Use since with 'March' because it's a starting point.)

Perguntas frequentes

Can I use 'for' and 'since' with other tenses?

No, for A1 English, you will primarily use for e since with the Present Perfect tense to talk about actions that started in the past and continue now.

What is the difference between 'for a long time' and 'since a long time'?

You should always say for a long time. A long time is a duration, so we use for. We do not say since a long time.

Is 'have been' the same as 'have lived'?

Not exactly. Have been is the Present Perfect of the verb to be. Have lived is the Present Perfect of the verb to live. Both can be used with for e since. Por exemplo, I have been here for an hour ou I have lived here for an hour.

Sobre o autor: Raúl Maguiña

Raúl Maguiña é diretor da Asociación Educativa Langcom, um centro autorizado de preparação para o Cambridge English em seu país. Com mais de uma década de experiência no ensino de idiomas e em certificações internacionais, ele já ajudou milhares de alunos, professores e instituições de ensino em 25 países a obter as certificações de inglês da Cambridge, IELTS, TOEFL e Michigan.

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