Grammar reference and practice 5.3

5.3 ■ Present perfect with for and since

We use the present perfect + for or since to say how long a situation has existed.

• ■We use for with a period of time: for a few seconds, for a day, for two weeks, for several years.

  She’s had this house for many years.

  ■We use since with a specific time: since ten o’clock, since Friday, since yesterday, since May, since 2007.

  She’s had this house since 2011.

We can use the question How long … ? with the present perfect to ask about the length of time that a present situation has existed.

How long has Jo lived here? (Jo still lives here.)

1Rewrite the sentences using for or since. Today is Friday 19 June 2025. Marcia is twenty-five years old. 

You need to use normal letters and capital letters correctly in this task.

• 1Marcia's been here since Monday.

  Marcia's been here .

• 2Marcia's parents have lived in New York for two years.

  Marcia's parents have lived in New York .

• 3Marcia has had a car since she was eighteen.

  Marcia has had a car .

• 4Marcia's twin brothers have been teenagers for ten days.

  Marcia's twin brothers have been teenagers .

• 5Marcia's worked at the post office since January.

  Marcia's worked at the post office .

• 6Marcia's been engaged for two months.

  Marcia's been engaged .

2 Complete the questions. Then write true answers.    Where do you live? How long / you / live there? ...    What's the weather like today? How long / it / be cold (sunny, raining, snowing, etc.)? ...  What are you wearing? How long / you / have it? ...   Who is your best friend? How long / you / know them? ...  Do you study geography at school?  How long / you / study it? ...  What are your favourite animals? How long / you / be interested in them? ...

1.  Write your task in another program (e.g. Word).
2.  Save the file to your computer.
3.  Upload your file.
4.  If you want to add a note to your teacher, write it in the Comments box.
5.  Select Submit to Dropbox to send your work to your teacher.

3Complete the sentences with the words in the box. 

MOVE
• for
• since
• already
• just
• ever
• never
• yet

• 1I've known my best friend   a long time.

• 2My sister has   tried a risky sport.

• 3Have you   tried trampolining?

• 4Mike's thirty-two now, and has had a fear of injections   his childhood.

• 5Have they published the exam results  ?

• 6The ground is wet because it has   stopped raining.

• 7It's only September, but they've   bought some Christmas presents.