Question 1

How do for and since work with the past perfect?

Accepted Answer

Past perfect does not change the core rule. Use "for" with the length of time before a past reference point: "They had waited for three hours before the train arrived." Use "since" with the starting point before that past reference point: "They had not spoken since the argument." The main difference is the timeline. Present perfect connects past to now; past perfect connects an earlier past situation to a later past moment. The preposition still depends on whether the phrase measures duration or names the beginning.

Question 2

Can since be followed by a noun phrase in formal writing?

Accepted Answer

Yes. In formal and written English, "since" can be followed by a noun phrase that represents a starting event or point: "since the merger", "since her appointment", "since the accident", or "since records began". The phrase does not measure a length of time; it identifies when the situation began or changed. A sentence such as "Revenue has increased since the merger" means the increase started after that event. Use "for" only if the phrase gives duration, such as "for three years after the merger."

Question 3

Why is for much of her career a duration?

Accepted Answer

"For much of her career" is a duration because it measures a long part of a career. It does not identify one starting moment. Similar phrases include "for most of the year", "for the best part of a decade", and "for several months". They may sound less direct than "for two weeks", but they still answer "How long?" Use "since" when the phrase names a start: "since the beginning of her career" or "since she joined the company." The difference is between a stretch of time and a starting point.

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For vs Since - Easy

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