English Grammar Exercises: For and since – When ___ ? and How long ___ ?

Exercise 1 

Write for or since.

1) It's been raining ________ lunchtime.

2) Sarah has lived in Paris ________ 1995.

3) Paul has lived in Brazil ________ ten years.

4) I'm tired of waiting. We’ve been sitting here ________ an hour.

5) Kevin has been looking for a job ________ he left school.

6) I haven't been to a party ________ ages.

7) I wonder where Joe is. I haven't seen him ________ last week.

8) Jane is away. She's been away ________ Friday.

9) The weather is dry. It hasn't rained ________ a few weeks.

Show answers

1)

1   since

2   since

3   for

4   for

5   since

6   for

7   since

8   since

9   for

Exercise 2 

Use the words in brackets to make sentences.

1) it's raining.

     (how long?) ________

     (when?) ________

2) Kate is learning Japanese.

     (how long / learn?) ________

     (when / start?) ________

3) I know Simon.

     (how long / you / know?) ________

     (when / you / first / meet?) ________

4) Rebecca and David are married.

     (how long?) ________

     (when?) ________

Show answers

2)

1   How long has it been raining?

    When did it start raining?

2   How long has Kate been learning Japanese?

    When did Kate start learning Japanese?

3   How long have you known Simon?

    When did you first meet Simon? / When did you and Simon first meet?

4   How long have Rebecca and David been married?

    When did Rebecca and David get married? / When did Rebecca and David marry?

Exercise 3 

Read the situations and complete the sentences.

1) It's raining. It’s been raining since lunchtime. It ________at lunchtime.

2) Ann and jess are friends. They first met years ago. They've ________ years.

3) Mark is ill. He became ill on Sunday. He has ________ Sunday.

4) Mark is ill. He became ill a few days ago. He has ________ a few days.

5) Sarah is married. She's been married for a year. She got ________

6) You have a headache. It started when you woke up.

     I've ________ I woke up.

7) Sue has been in Italy for the last three weeks.

     She went ________

8) You're working in a hotel. You started six months ago.

     I've ________

Show answers

3)

1   started raining

2   known each other for

3   He has been ill since Sunday.

4   He has been ill for a few days.

5   She got married a year ago.

6   I've had a headache since I woke up.

7   She went to Italy three weeks ago.

8   I've been working in a hotel for six months. or I've worked in a hotel for six months.

Exercise 4 

Write B's sentences using the words in brackets.

1) A: Do you often go on holiday?

     B: No, ________ five years.

2) A: Do you often see Laura?

     B: No, I ________ about a month.

3) A: Do you often go to the cinema?

     B: No, ________ a long time.

4) A: Do you often eat in restaurants?

     B: No, ________ ages.

Now write B's answers again. This time use It's … since … .

5) (1) ________

6) (2) No, its ________

7) (3) No, ________

8) (4) ________

Show answers

4)

1   I haven’t had a holiday for

2   No, I haven't seen Laura/her for about a month.

3   No, I haven't been to the cinema for a long time.

4   No, I haven't eaten in a restaurant for ages. / No, I haven't been to a restaurant for ages.

6   No, it's about a month since I (last) saw Laura/her. / No, it's been about a month since …

7   No, it's a long time since I (last) went to the cinema. / No, it's been a long time since …

8   No, it's ages since I (last) ate in a restaurant. / No, it's been ages since … or … since I went to a restaurant.

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