For vs. Since — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on September 22, 2023
For" indicates a duration of time, while "since" points to the starting moment of that duration. Example: "For two hours" vs. "Since 10 AM."
Difference Between For and Since
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Key Differences
"For" and "Since" are both prepositions used in English to denote time, but they are employed in distinct contexts. "For" is utilized to represent a span or duration of time. For instance, if someone has been reading a book for three hours, the focus is on the length of the activity. In contrast, "Since" is employed to indicate a specific starting point in time. If someone has been reading since 9 AM, it highlights when the action began.
Consider another scenario: someone has lived in New York for ten years. Here, "For" emphasizes the decade-long period they've been a resident. If the statement reads they've lived there since 2010, "Since" draws attention to the year they started residing in New York. The distinction may seem subtle, but it plays a crucial role in conveying accurate temporal information.
It's important to note that "Since" often pairs with the present perfect tense because it connects the past to the present. Sentences like "I have known her since childhood" denote an ongoing relationship from a past point (childhood) to the present. On the other hand, "For" can be used with various tenses, emphasizing the duration, such as "He studied for two hours" (past simple) or "I have been waiting for an hour" (present perfect).
In summary, while both "For" and "Since" offer temporal context, they serve different functions. "For" underscores duration, and "Since" pinpoints the commencement of an action or state.
Comparison Chart
Function
Indicates duration
Indicates start point
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Tense association
Used with various tenses
Often used with present perfect tense
Example
For two hours
Since 10 AM
Representation
Amount of time
Point in time
Usage
Denotes length of an activity
Marks when an activity began
Compare with Definitions
For
Indicating the duration of an action.
She slept for eight hours.
Since
Referring to the time after a specific point.
It has been years since we last met.
For
Indicating a destination.
They left for the beach.
Since
Because or for the reason that.
Since it's raining, we should stay indoors.
For
Used to indicate the object, aim, or purpose of an action or activity
Trained for the ministry.
Put the house up for sale.
Plans to run for senator.
Since
After a particular time has passed.
I haven't seen her since Tuesday.
For
Used to indicate a destination
Headed off for town.
Since
Continuously from a past time until now.
They have been friends since childhood.
For
Used to indicate the object of a desire, intention, or perception
Had a nose for news.
Eager for success.
Since
From then until now or between then and now
They left town and haven't been here since.
For
Used to indicate the recipient or beneficiary of an action
Prepared lunch for us.
Since
Before now; ago
A name long since forgotten.
For
On behalf of
Spoke for all the members.
Since
After some point in the past; at a subsequent time
My friend has since married and moved to California.
For
In favor of
Were they for or against the proposal?.
Since
Continuously from
They have been friends since childhood.
For
In place of
A substitute for eggs.
Since
Intermittently from
She's been skiing since childhood.
For
Used to indicate equivalence or equality
Paid ten dollars for a ticket.
Repeated the conversation word for word.
Since
During the period subsequent to the time when
He hasn't been home since he graduated.
For
Used to indicate correlation or correspondence
Took two steps back for every step forward.
Since
Continuously from the time when
They have been friends ever since they were in grade school.
For
Used to indicate amount, extent, or duration
A bill for five dollars.
Walked for miles.
Stood in line for an hour.
Since
Inasmuch as; because
Since you're not interested, I won't tell you about it.
For
Used to indicate a specific time
Had an appointment for two o'clock.
Since
From a specified time in the past.
I met him last year, but haven't seen him since.
A short/long time since
For
Used to indicate a number of attempts
Shot three for four from the foul line.
Since
From: referring to a period of time ending in the present and defining it by the point in time at which it started, or the period in which its starting point occurred.
For
As being
Take for granted.
Mistook me for the librarian.
Since
Continuously during that period of time.
I have known her since last year.
For
Used to indicate an actual or implied listing or choosing
For one thing, we can't afford it.
Since
At certain points during that period of time.
For
As a result of; because of
Jumped for joy.
Since
From the time that.
I have loved you since I first met you.
For
Used to indicate appropriateness or suitability
It will be for the judge to decide.
Since
Because.
Since you didn't call, we left without you.
For
Notwithstanding; despite
For all the problems, it was a valuable experience.
Since
(obsolete) When or that.
For
As regards; concerning
A stickler for neatness.
Since
From a definite past time until now; as, he went a month ago, and I have not seen him since.
We since become the slaves to one man's lust.
For
Considering the nature or usual character of
Was spry for his advanced age.
Since
In the time past, counting backward from the present; before this or now; ago.
How many ages since has Virgil writ?
About two years since, it so fell out, that he was brought to a great lady's house.
For
In honor of
Named for her grandmother.
Since
When or that.
Do you remember since we lay all night in the windmill in St. George's field?
For
Because; since.
Since
From the time of; in or during the time subsequent to; subsequently to; after; - usually with a past event or time for the object.
The Lord hath blessed thee, since my coming.
I have a model by which he build a nobler poem than any extant since the ancients.
For
Because of this; for this reason.
Since
Seeing that; because; considering; - formerly followed by that.
Since that my penitence comes after all,Imploring pardon.
Since truth and constancy are vain,Since neither love, nor sense of pain,Nor force of reason, can persuade,Then let example be obeyed.
For
Because, as, since.
I had to stay with my wicked stepmother, for I had nowhere else to go.
Since
Marking the starting point of an action's duration.
He has been working since morning.
For
Towards; in the direction of.
The astronauts headed for the moon.
Run for the hills!
He was headed for the door when he remembered.
For
Directed at; intended to belong to.
I have something for you.
For
In order to help, benefit, gratify, honor etc. (someone or something).
Everything I do, I do for you.
We're having a birthday party for Janet.
The mayor gave a speech for the charity gala.
For
To be used or treated in a stated way, or with a stated purpose.
This is a new bell for my bicycle.
The cake is for Tom and Helen's anniversary.
These apples here are for eating. The rest are for throwing away.
For
Supporting, in favour of.
All those for the motion, raise your hands.
Who's for ice-cream?
I'm for going by train
For
Because of.
He wouldn't apologize; and just for that, she refused to help him.
She was the worse for drink.
I like her for lots of reasons.
For
Intended to cure, remove or counteract; in order to cure, remove or counteract.
This medicine is for your cough.
I need to spray my house for termites.
For
Over (a period of time).
I've lived here for three years.
They fought for days over a silly pencil.
For
Throughout or across (a distance in space).
I can see for miles.
For
Used to introduce a subject within a to-infinitive clause.
It is unreasonable for our boss to withhold our wages.
All I want is for you to be happy.
For
On behalf of.
I will stand in for him.
I speak for the Prime Minister.
For
In the role or capacity of; instead of; in place of.
I used a hay bale for a bed.
He's got a turnip for a brain.
For
In exchange for; in correspondence or equivalence with.
I got five hundred pounds for that old car!
He matched me blow for blow.
For
In order to obtain or acquire.
I am aiming for completion by the end of business Thursday.
He's going for his doctorate.
Do you want to go for coffee?
People all over Greece looked to Delphi for answers.
Can you go to the store for some eggs?
I'm saving up for a car.
Don't wait for an answer.
What did he ask you for?
For
By the standards of, usually with the implication that those standards are lower than one might otherwise expect; considering.
Fair for its day.
She's spry for an old lady.
He's very mature, for a two-year old.
For
To be, or as being.
Don't take me for a fool.
For
(usually in the phrase 'for all') Despite, in spite of.
For all his expensive education, he didn't seem very bright.
For
Indicating something desired or anticipated.
O for the wings of a dove.
Ah! for wings to soar
And now for a slap-up meal!
For
(in expressions such as 'for a start') Introducing the first item(s) in a potential sequence.
Go scuba diving? For one thing, I can't even swim.
For
In honor of; after.
He is named for his grandfather.
For
Due or facing (a certain outcome or fate).
He totally screwed up that project. Now he's surely for the sack.
For
Out of; used to indicate a fraction, a ratio
In term of base hits, Jones was three for four on the day
For
(cricket) Used as part of a score to indicate the number of wickets that have fallen.
At close of play, England were 305 for 3.
For
(obsolete) Indicating that in prevention of which, or through fear of which, anything is done.
For
Used in various more-or-less idiomatic ways to construe individual verbs, indicating various semantic relationships such as target, purpose, result, etc.; see also the entries for individual phrasal verbs, e.g. ask for, look for, stand for, etc.
To account for one's whereabouts
To care for a relative
To settle for second best
To allow for mistakes
For
(nonstandard) So (that), in order to
He took the swing shift for he could get more overtime.
For
In the most general sense, indicating that in consideration of, in view of, or with reference to, which anything is done or takes place.
For
Indicating the antecedent cause or occasion of an action; the motive or inducement accompanying and prompting to an act or state; the reason of anything; that on account of which a thing is or is done.
With fiery eyes sparkling for very wrath.
How to choose dogs for scent or speed.
Now, for so many glorious actions done,For peace at home, and for the public wealth,I mean to crown a bowl for Cæsar's health.
That which we, for our unworthiness, are afraid to crave, our prayer is, that God, for the worthiness of his Son, would, notwithstanding, vouchsafe to grant.
For
Indicating the remoter and indirect object of an act; the end or final cause with reference to which anything is, acts, serves, or is done.
The oak for nothing ill,The osier good for twigs, the poplar for the mill.
It was young counsel for the persons, and violent counsel for the matters.
Shall I think the worls was made for one,And men are born for kings, as beasts for men,Not for protection, but to be devoured?
For he writes not for money, nor for praise.
For
Indicating that in favor of which, or in promoting which, anything is, or is done; hence, in behalf of; in favor of; on the side of; - opposed to against.
We can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.
It is for the general good of human society, and consequently of particular persons, to be true and just; and it is for men's health to be temperate.
Aristotle is for poetical justice.
For
Indicating that toward which the action of anything is directed, or the point toward which motion is made; ntending to go to.
We sailed from Peru for China and Japan.
For
Indicating that on place of or instead of which anything acts or serves, or that to which a substitute, an equivalent, a compensation, or the like, is offered or made; instead of, or place of.
And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
For
Indicating that in the character of or as being which anything is regarded or treated; to be, or as being.
We take a falling meteor for a star.
If a man can be fully assured of anything for a truth, without having examined, what is there that he may not embrace for tru ?
Most of our ingenious young men take up some cried-up English poet for their model.
But let her go for an ungrateful woman.
For
Indicating that instead of which something else controls in the performing of an action, or that in spite of which anything is done, occurs, or is; hence, equivalent to notwithstanding, in spite of; - generally followed by all, aught, anything, etc.
The writer will do what she please for all me.
God's desertion shall, for aught he knows, the next minute supervene.
For anything that legally appears to the contrary, it may be a contrivance to fright us.
For
Indicating the space or time through which an action or state extends; hence, during; in or through the space or time of.
For many miles aboutThere 's scarce a bush.
Since, hired for life, thy servile muse sing.
To guide the sun's bright chariot for a day.
For
Indicating that in prevention of which, or through fear of which, anything is done.
We 'll have a bib, for spoiling of thy doublet.
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
For me, my stormy voyage at an end,I to the port of death securely tend.
For
Because; by reason that; for that; indicating, in Old English, the reason of anything.
And for of long that way had walkéd none,The vault was hid with plants and bushes hoar.
And Heaven defend your good souls, that you thinkI will your serious and great business scant,For she with me.
For
Since; because; introducing a reason of something before advanced, a cause, motive, explanation, justification, or the like, of an action related or a statement made. It is logically nearly equivalent to since, or because, but connects less closely, and is sometimes used as a very general introduction to something suggested by what has gone before.
Give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth forever.
Heaven doth with us as we with torches do,Not light them for themselves; for if our virtuesDid not go forth of us, 't were all alikeAs if we had them not.
For
One who takes, or that which is said on, the affrimative side; that which is said in favor of some one or something; - the antithesis of against, and commonly used in connection with it.
For
Expressing purpose or reason.
He went to the store for some milk.
For
Denoting the recipient or beneficiary.
This gift is for you.
For
Representing in favor of or supporting.
I am for the new policy.
Common Curiosities
Why is "Since" often used with present perfect tense?
Because it often links a past action to the present moment.
Can "Since" also denote a reason?
Yes, "Since" can mean "because," as in "Since it's cold, wear a jacket."
When is "Since" appropriate?
Use "Since" to specify the starting point of an action or event.
When should I use "For"?
Use "For" when indicating a duration or length of time.
Which tenses pair well with "For"?
"For" can be used with many tenses like present perfect, past simple, and continuous forms.
Can "For" denote purpose?
Yes, as in "She went to the market for groceries."
Can "For" denote support or favor?
Yes, like in "Are you for or against the motion?"
Does "Since" work with future tense?
Rarely. It's primarily used with present and past tenses.
Is "Since" always about time?
No, it can also indicate causation or reason.
How do I differentiate "For" and "Since" in time-related sentences?
"For" emphasizes duration, while "Since" highlights the starting moment.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
