For, since or during?
For and since are both used to say how long something was. However, we use them with different time words.
FOR
We use for when we say the number of hours, days, months, etc. We also use it in expressions like "for ages" and "for a long time".
- I'm going to live in France for two years.
- I sat down for five minutes.
- I've worked here for three months.
SINCE
We use since when we say when something started (e.g. Tuesday, 2008, midnight). We usually use since with perfect tenses (read more about perfect tenses here).
- I've lived here since October.
- I'd known Sam since 1999.
DURING
We use during with nouns (e.g. the holiday, my party, the night). Sometimes it means for all the time, and sometimes it means for just part of the time.
- My grandmother worked in the USA during the war.
- I heard a strange noise during the night.
Practice
Choose the best preposition to complete these sentences.