Fundamentals Of English Grammar

'OR

(a) I have been here

' since eight o'clock.

since 'lkesday.

since May.

since 1999.

since January 3,2001.

since yesterday.

, since last month.

(b) CORRECT: I hawe lived here since May.*

CORRECT: I have been here since May.

(c) INCOm: I am living here since May.

(d) INCORRECT: I live here since May.

(e) INCORRECT: I lived here since May.

INCORRPCT: I was here since May.

h4AIN CtAUSE SINCE-CLAUSE

(present perfect) (simple past)

(f) I have Hued here since I was a child.

(g) A1 has met many people since he came here.

(h) I have been here

for ten minutes.

for two hours.

for five days.

for about three weeks.

for almost six months.

for many years.

for a long time.

(i) I have lived herefor reuo years. I moved here

two years ago, and I still live here.

(j) I lived in Athensfor m years. I don't live in

Athens now.

Fince is followed by the mention of a specific

mint in time: an hour, a day, a month, a year,

!tC.

Since expresses the idea rhat something

)egm at a specific time in the past and

:ontinues to the present.

The present p4ect is used in sentences with

since.

In (c): The present progressive is NOT used.

In (d):The simple present is NOT used.

In (e): The simple past is NOT used.

Since may also introduce a time clause (i.e.,

a subject and verb may follow since).

Notice in the examples: The present perfect

is used in the main clause; the simple past is

used in the since-clause.

For is followed by the mention of a length of

time: two minutes, he hours, four days,

five weeks, etc.

Note: If the noun ends in -8 @ours, days,

weeks, etc.), usefir in the time expression,

not since.

In (i): The use of the present perfect in a

sentence withfor + a length of time means

that the action began in the past and

continues to the present.

In (j):The use of the simple past means that

the action began and ended in the past.

*&w connacr: I haw been lirrinp hers rim Mw. See Chart 4-7, p. 100, for s discussion of the present perfect progressive.

\.

EXERCISE 19. SINCE vs. FOR. (Chart 4-5)

Directions: Complete the sentences.

since ~iw o'clock 4K IS rzav~i~q.

1. I've been in this building ..........
   {for 27 rzi~1~4e~


2. We've been in class .....
   since
   . {for
   since


3. I've been in this city .............
   I. -., ,

The Present Perfect and me Past Perfect 95