Present Perfect Continuous - since and for - Worksheet | English ... - Free Printable

Let's solve this exercise step by step.

We are asked to fill in the blanks with "for" or "since" in sentences using the present perfect continuous tense.

Key Rules:

- "Since" is used with a specific point in time (e.g., a date, a time, an event).
- Examples: since 2004, since morning, since Wednesday, since 8 pm.
- "For" is used with a duration of time (e.g., how long something has been happening).
- Examples: for five years, for two days, for ages, for five days.

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Now let’s go through each sentence:

1. Emily has been working in our company ________ over five years.
→ "over five years" indicates a duration.
✔ Answer: for

2. Your mother has been looking for you ________ morning.
→ "morning" refers to a point in time (the beginning of the day).
✔ Answer: since

3. My family had been living in this house ________ 2004.
→ "2004" is a specific year, a point in time.
✔ Answer: since

4. It has been raining ________ two days.
→ "two days" is a duration.
✔ Answer: for

5. We have been learning English ________ January.
→ "January" is a month, a point in time.
✔ Answer: since

6. They have been waiting for you ________ lunchtime.
→ "lunchtime" is a point in time.
✔ Answer: since

7. Students have been sitting here ________ a long time.
→ "a long time" refers to duration.
✔ Answer: for

8. Matthew has been teaching maths ________ years.
→ "years" is a duration (though it lacks a number, it still implies length).
✔ Answer: for

9. I have been trying to reach you ________ Wednesday.
→ "Wednesday" is a day, a specific point in time.
✔ Answer: since

10. They have been shopping ________ ages.
→ "ages" means a long duration.
✔ Answer: for

11. Lilly has been staying at her aunt ________ Christmas.
→ "Christmas" is a specific event/time.
✔ Answer: since

12. Emma and John have been relaxing ________ five days.
→ "five days" is a duration.
✔ Answer: for

13. We have been playing tennis ________ two hours.
→ "two hours" is a duration.
✔ Answer: for

14. You have been running ________ 8 pm.
→ "8 pm" is a specific time.
✔ Answer: since

15. I have been watching TV ________ you left.
→ "you left" is a past event, a point in time.
✔ Answer: since

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Final Answers:

1. for
2. since
3. since
4. for
5. since
6. since
7. for
8. for
9. since
10. for
11. since
12. for
13. for
14. since
15. since

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✔ Summary:
Use "since" when referring to a specific point in time (dates, events, times of day).
Use "for" when referring to a length of time (durations).

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