SINCE vs FOR (Duration)
SINCE = starting point (2020, Monday, January), FOR = duration (5 years, 3 weeks)
Question 1
Choose the correct word to complete the sentence.
I have lived here _____ five years.
Context: Duration of time
🧠Why This Mistake Happens
The Problem:
Spanish 'desde' means both 'since' and 'from', while 'desde hace' means 'for' (duration)
Linguistic Reason:
The structure 'Vivo aquí desde hace 5 años' translates literally to 'I live here since-makes 5 years,' causing Spanish speakers to produce 'I've lived here since 5 years' by focusing on 'desde' while dropping 'hace'.
Spanish Example:
Spanish: Vivo aquí desde 2020 / desde hace 5 años
Spanish uses 'desde' alone for starting points, 'desde hace' for durations
💡 Quick Rule:
SINCE = starting point (2020, Monday, January), FOR = duration (5 years, 3 weeks)
Common Examples:
I've lived here since 5 years
I've lived here for 5 years
Duration of time
I haven't seen him for Monday
I haven't seen him since Monday
Starting point in time
She's been sick since three days
She's been sick for three days
Duration measurement
💡 Tips for Success
- •SINCE = starting point (since 2020, since Monday, since January)
- •FOR = duration/period (for 5 years, for 3 days, for a while)
- •Spanish \'desde\' = SINCE, \'desde hace\' = FOR
- •If you can count it (5 years, 3 weeks), use FOR
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