Present Perfect + for and since

PRESENT PERFECT + for, since

Using the present perfect, we can define a period of time before now by considering
its duration,with for + a period of time, or by considering its starting point,
with since + a point in time.

For + a period of time

for six years, for a week, for a month, for hours, for two hours.
I have worked here for five years.

Since + a point in time

since this morning, since last week, since yesterday,

since I was a child, since Wednesday, since 2 o'clock.
I have worked here since 1990.

present perfect with for

She has lived here for twenty years.

We have taught at this school for a long time.
Alice has been married for three months.
They have been at the hotel for a week.

present perfect with since

She has lived here since 1980.

We have taught at this school since 1965
Alice has been married since March 2nd.
They have been at the hotel since last Tuesday.

Note:

For and since can both be used with the past perfect.
Since can only be used with perfect tenses, for can also be used with the
simple past.

1. GramaticaEngleza.com FOR si SINCE

2. GramaticaEngleza.com FOR arata durata unei actiuni, iar SINCE arata

inceputul unei actiuni.

3. GramaticaEngleza.com FOR se pune atunci cand indicam o perioada de

timp. Pe FOR il putem intalni cel mai des cu un numeral, in formulari de felul urmator: for
a week = (timp) de o saptamana for ten days = (timp) de zece zile for three months =
(timp) de trei luni for five minutes = (timp) de cinci minute for two centuries = (timp) de
doua secole etc.

4. GramaticaEngleza.com FOR se mai intalneste si in urmatoarele expresii: for a

while = de scurt timp for a long time = de mult timp, de multa vreme for a long while = de
mult timp, de multa vreme for a short time = de scurt timp, de scurta vreme for a short
while = de scurt timp, de scurta vreme for a few days/ years/ weeks = (timp) de cateva
zile/ ani/ saptamani for many days/ years/ weeks = (timp) de multe zile/ ani/
saptamani for ages = de un car de ani, de o vesnicie (evident la figurat)

5. GramaticaEngleza.com SINCE se pune atunci cand indicam inceputul unei

perioade de timp. SINCE arata de cand anume incepe o anumita actiune. SINCE se
foloseste in exprimari de genul urmator: since 1987 = din 1987 since July = din iulie since
lunchtime = din timpul pranzului since the beginning of the lesson = de la inceputul lectiei
since 10 oclock = de la ora 10 since Wednesday = de miercuri since my friends arrived =
de cand au sosit prietenii mei since I was a child = de cand eram copil since we
graduated high school = de cand am absolvit liceul etc. Atentie ! SINCE se poate folosi
inclusiv cu propozitii . In propozitia introdusa prin since avem verbul la Past Simple !

6. GramaticaEngleza.com FOR si SINCE sunt specifice timpurilor perfecte

(Present Perfect, Past Perfect, Future Perfect).

7. GramaticaEngleza.com Exemple: I havent seen him for ages. => Present

Perfect Simple (Nu l-am vazut de un car de vreme.) We have been friends since the
beginning of the school year. => Present Perfect Continuous (Suntem prieteni de la
inceputul anului scolar.) He had been trying to repair the car for fifty minutes by the time
the mechanic arrived. => Past Perfect Continuous (Incercase sa repare masina timp de
50 de minute pana cand a sosit mecanicul.) They had been married since 1970 when her
husband died. => Past Perfect Simple (Fusesera casatoriti din 1970 cand sotul ei a
murit.)

8. GramaticaEngleza.com The girls will have been making cookies for three hours
by the time their guests arrive. => Future Perfect Continuous (Fetele vor face prajiturele
de trei ore pana cand vor sosi musafirii.) The books will have been there since June by
the time she finally notices them. => Future Perfect Simple (Cartile vor fi acolo din iunie
pana cand, in cele din urma, le va observa si ea.)

The Difference Between "since" and "for"

We use both since and for to say how long something has been happening:
I've been waiting for you since 8 o'clock.
I've been waiting for you for two hours.
We use "since" when we say the beginning of the period (8 o'clock).
We use "for" when we say the period of time (two hours).
Since
8 o'clock
Monday
12 may
April

1977
Christmas
lunchtime
we arrived

For
two hours
ten minutes
three days
six months

a week
five years
a longtime
ages

She's been working here since April. (= from April until now)
She's been working here for six mounths. (not 'since six months ')
I haven't seen Tom since Monday . (= form Monday until now)
I haven't seen Tom for three day. (not 'since three days ')
We do not use for in expressions with all (all day / all morning / all week / all may life etc.)
I've lived here all my life .(not 'for all my life')
Note the structure How long is it since ...?
A: How long is it since you had a holiday ?
B : it's been two years since I had a holiday . (= I haven't had a holiday for two years.)
It's ages since Tom visited us. (= He hasn't visited us for ages
Exercise
Complete the sentences below with since or for !
1. It's been snowing............. I got up this morning.
2. Tom's father has been a doctor ........... 20 years.
3. Have you been learning English .............. a long time ?
4. ........ Christmas, the weather has been quite mild.

5. Ann has been on holiday ............ five days.

6. That 's a very old bike. I've had it ......... ages.

What's the difference? Present Perfect

and Past Simple
Present Perfect Simple
Unfinished actions that started in the past
and continue to the present:
I've known Julie for ten years (and I still
know her).
A finished action in someone's life (when
the person is still alive: life experience):
My brother has been to Mexico three times.
A finished action with a result in the
present:
I've lost my keys! (The result is that I can't
get into my house now).

Past Simple
Finished actions:
I knew Julie for ten years (but then she moved
away and we lost touch).
A finished action in someone's life (when the
person is dead):
My great-grandmother went to Mexico three
times.
A finished action with no result in the present:
I lost my keys yesterday. It was terrible! (Now
there is no result. I got new keys yesterday).

With an unfinished time word (this week,

With a finished time word (last week, last

this month, today):

month, yesterday):

I've seen John this week.

I saw John last week.

Using the Present Perfect

When should we use the present perfect tense?

This is one of the most difficult tenses to use correctly. I hope the rules
below are helpful:
We use this tense for unfinished and finished actions:
Unfinished Actions
We use this tense when we want to talk about unfinished actions that started in the past
and continue to the present. Usually we use it to say 'how long' an action or state has
continued with 'since' and 'for'. Often, we use stative verbs in this situation:
I've known Karen since 1994.
She's lived in London for three years.
'Since' and 'For'
We use 'since' with a fixed time in the past (2004, April 23rd, last year, two hours ago).
The fixed time can be another action, indicated with the past simple (since I was at
school, since I arrived):
I've known Sam since 1992.
I've liked chocolate since I was a child.
She's been here since 2pm.
We use 'for' with a period of time (2 hours, three years, six months):
I've known Julie for ten years.
I've been hungry for hours.
She's had a cold for a week.

Finished Actions
1: Life experience

(we don't say when the experience happened, just sometime in the past)
I have been to Tokyo.
She has lived in Germany.
They have visited Paris three times.
We have never seen that film.
Have you ever read 'War and Peace'?
2: A finished action with a result in the present (focus on result)
I've lost my keys (so I can't get into my house).
She's hurt her leg (so she can't play tennis today).
They've missed the bus (so they will be late).
I've cooked dinner (so you should come and eat).
3: With an unfinished time word (this month, this week, today, in the last year)
I haven't seen her this month.
She's drunk three cups of coffee today.
This week they've been shopping four times.
Note: We can't use the present perfect with a finished time word:
'Been' and 'Gone'
In this tense, we use both 'been' and 'gone' as the past participle of 'go', but in slightly
different circumstances.
Been
We use 'been' (often when we talk about 'life experience') to mean that the person being
talked about has visited the place, and come back. Notice the preposition 'to':
I've been to Paris (in my life, but now I'm in London, where I live).
She has been to school today (but now she's back at home).
They have never been to California.
Gone
We use 'gone' (often when we are talking about an action with a result in the present) to
mean that the person is at the place now:
'Where's John?' 'He's gone to the shops' (he's at the shops now).

Julie has gone to Mexico (now she's in Mexico).

They've gone to Japan for three weeks (now they're in Japan).
The Present Perfect Simple Tense
How to form the present perfect
To make the positive present perfect tense, use:
'have' / 'has' + the past participle
Make the past participle by adding 'ed' to regular verbs (for example, 'play' becomes
'played')
There are a few verbs that change their spelling when you add 'ed' (for example, 'study'
becomes 'studied')
We also have some completely irregular verbs
(Also, here's some help if you are not sure how to pronounce '-ed' at the end of a verb).
Positive

Positive Short Form

I have played

I've played

you have worked

you've worked

he has written

he's written

she has walked

she's walked

it has rained

it's rained

we have travelled

we've travelled

they have studied

they've studied

Try an exercise about the positive form here

The negative is really simple too. Just put 'not' after 'have' or 'has':
Negative

Negative Short Form

I have not eaten breakfast today

I haven't eaten

you have not been to Asia

you haven't been

he has not seen the new film

he hasn't seen

she has not played tennis

she hasn't played

it has not snowed this winter

it hasn't snowed

we have not slept all night

we haven't slept

they have not tried the food

they haven't tried

Try an exercise about the negative form here

To make a question, put 'have' or 'has' in front of the subject:
'Yes / No' Questions
have I missed the bus?
have you visited London?
has he worked as a waiter before?
has she met John?
has it been cold this week?
have we arrived too early?
have they studied English grammar before?

As you can imagine, for 'wh' questions, we just put the question word before
'have' or 'has':
'Wh' Questions
where have I left my umbrella?
what have you done today?
why has he gone already?
where has she been in the UK?
why has it rained so much this summer?
what have we done?
where have they learned English before?

Present perfect and continuous - Prezent perfect si

continuu
1. Prezent perfect

Prezentul perfect (Present perfect), este una dintre

particularitatile limbii engleze, acest timp nu are corespondent in
limba romana.
Ca definitie, prezentul perfect exprima o actiune terminata in
trecut sau o actiune din trecut ce continua si in momentul
prezent.
Acesta se formeaza cu prezentul auxiliarului have (have/
has) + participiul trecut al verbului (regulat sau neregulat).
Adesea, auxiliarul have este folosit alaturi de subiect cu forma
prescurtata 've.
Exemplu:
I've seen your picture. - Ti-am vazut poza. (am vazut-o deja)
You have worked hard. - Ai muncit din greu. (si inca muncesti)

She has painted a picture. - Ea a pictat un tablou. (a pictat deja un

tablou)

Forma negativa se formeaza cu not intre auxiliarul have

/has si participiul trecut al verbului. Auxiliarul have /
has impreuna cu not se folosesc adesea cu forma
prescurtata haven't / hasn't.
I haven't (have not) been to Spain. - Nu am fost in Spania.
She has not (hasn't) played football. - Ea nu a jucat fotbal.

Forma interogativa se formeaza prin inversiunea dintre

auxiliarul have / has si subiect.
Have you worked here? - Ati lucrat aici?
Has she written the letter? - A scris ea scrisoarea?

Conjugare
I have walked - Eu m-am plimbat
you have walked - Tu te-ai plimbat
He has walked - El se-a plimbat
she has walked - Ea s-a plimbat
it has walked - S-a plimbat
we have walked - Noi ne-am plimbat
you have walked - Voi v-ati plimbat
they have walked - Ei s-au plimbat

Exemple:
I have read a book every week. - Am citit o carte in fiecare
saptamana. (si continui sa citesc)
You have won this race. - Ai ctigat aceast curs. (ati castigat-o
deja)

How long has it been since the last time we met? - Cat a trecut de
cand ne-am intalnit ultima data?

Functii
De retinut:
- Prezentul perfect este un timp apartinand prezentului. El face
legatura dintre trecut si prezent. Dar accentul se pune pe
momentul vorbirii, pe acum.
Prezentul perfect exprima:
- O actiune incheiata la un moment nedefinit in trecut, sau o
actiune din trecut care se extinde si in momentul prezent.
I have walked three miles already - Am mers deja 3 mile. (dar
continui sa merg).
She has visited the botanical garden. - Ea a vizitat gradina botanica.
(ea a vazut-o deja, demult).
They have wetted the flowers since 5 o'clock. - Ei au udat florile
incepand cu (de la) ora 5. (si continua sa le ude).

- Actiuni sau evenimente din trecut care conduc pana in momentul

prezent. In acest caz, folosirea timpului prezent perfect arata ca
rezultatul evenimetului sau actiunii care apartine momentului
prezent este cel care conteaza si nu momentul in care a avut loc
actiunea.
He has bought a new flower. - El a cumparat o noua floare. (si acum
are o noua floare)
They have been to Mexico but they have not been to Japan. - Ei au
fost in Mexic, dar ei nu au fost si in Japonia. (in consecinta, au
cunostinte despre Mexic dar nu stiu prea multe despre Japonia)

- Obiceiuri sau evenimente si actiuni frecvente in decursul unei

perioade de timp care conduc la momentul prezentului.
She has studied English for four years. - Ea a studiat limba englez
timp de patru ani. (si inca mai studiaza engleza)

Influenta adverbelor
Alegerea intre prezentul perfect si trecutul simplu este de
multe ori influentata si de adverbele care insotesc verbul. Daca
adverbele respective se refera la o perioada trecuta, trebuie
folosit trecutul simplu.
I studied all night. /yesterday /on Wednesday - Am studiat toata
noaptea. /ieri /miercuri

Cu adverbe care marcheaza un inceput in trecut si conduc pana la

momentul prezentului, se foloseste prezentul perfect.
I have studied up to now. /lately /already - Am invatat pana acum. /de
curand /deja

Expresii adverbiale cum ar fi: today (azi), this month (luna

aceasta), for an hour (timp de o ora), etc.; se pot folosi atat cu
prezentul perfect cat si cu trecutul simplu.
I worked /have worked hard today. - Am muncit mult azi.

Exista tendinta de a folosi prezentul perfect pentru a anunta un

eveniment din trecutul recent.
The teacher has encouraged often his students - Profesorul a
ncurajat adesea pe elevii si.

Dar vom folosi trecutul simplu pentru a relata sau anunta

evenimente care au luat sfarsit si apartin trecutului indepartat.

Newton discovered the gravity law. - Newton a descoperit legea

gravitatiei.

Prezentul perfect - exercitii

2. Prezent perfect continuu

Si aceasta forma verbala apartine timpului prezent si se

raporteaza la momentul prezent.
Prezentul perfect continuu (Present perfect continuous) se
foloseste pentru actiuni, stari, sentimente ncepute n trecut si
care se desfasoara si n prezent, poate si n viitor.
Este adesea folosit cu expresii adverbiale ca: for ages (de mult
vreme), for three hours (de trei ore), since 19... (din anul
19...), since last year (de anul
trecut), recently (recent), lately (in ultimul timp)
Prezent perfect continuu se formeaza cu ajutorul
formei: Have/has + been + participiul prezent (-ing).
It has been raining for two days (and it's still raining). - Ploua de
doua zile (si inca mai ploua).
I have been reading since this morning. - Citesc de azi dimineata. (si
inca mai citesc)

De retinut:
- Diferenta dintre forma prezentului perfect simplu si cea a
prezentului perfect continuu este aceea ca forma continua pune
accentul mai mult pe durata actiunii sau a starii ce se desfasoara
de ceva timp, pe cand la perfectul simplu accentul e pus pe
actiunea desfasurata.

Forma negativa - se adauga not intre auxiliarul have /

has si been. Adesea, in locul constuctiei have not / has not se
foloseste forma prescurtata haven't / hasn't.
It has not / hasn't been raining for 2 weeks. - Nu mai ploua de 2
saptamani.

Forma interogativa se obtine prin inversiunea auxiliarului have

/has cu subiectul.
Have you been reading since this morning? - Cititi de azi dimineata?

Conjugare
I have been walking - Eu ma plimb
you have been walking - Tu te plimbi
He has been walking - El se plimba
she has been walking - Ea se plimba
it has been walking - Se plimba
we have been walking - Noi ne plimbam
you have been walking - Voi va plimbati
they have been walking - Ei se plimba

Exemplu:
They have been playing tennis for half an hour. - Ei joac tenis de o
jumtate de or.

De retinut:
For
- poate fi folosit atat cu trecutul simplu cat si cu formele perfecte
(prezent, trecut, viitor perfect).
- are sensul de: in timpul, pe durata, timp de.

Since

- se foloseste doar cu formele perfecte.

- are sensul de "incepand de la un moment dat".

Prezent perfect continuu - exercitii