DURING During is followed by a noun. For example, we can say ‘during the party’. This usually means ‘at some time between the start of the party and the end of the party’.
I woke up during the night (= I woke up at some time between the start of the night and the end of the night.)
- He drank coffee during the meeting (= he drank coffee at some time between the start of the meeting and the end of the meeting).
We DON’T use ‘during’ to say ‘how long’.
- NOT:
I lived in Japan during a year. - NOT:
She slept during twelve hours. - NOT:
He’s going to work in London during a month.
WHILE
‘While’ has a very similar meaning to ‘during’, but we use ‘while + subject + verb’.
- She arrived during the meal. (‘During’ + noun.)
- She arrived while we were eating. (‘While’ + subject + verb.)
- I called him during his trip.
- I called him while he was travelling.
- We visited my grandmother during the holidays.
- We visited my grandmother while we were on holiday.
FOR
‘For’ tells us ‘how long’. It’s generally used with a number (or ‘a’) and a time word: four years, three months, six hours.
- I lived in Japan for a year.
- She slept for twelve hours.
- He’s going to work in London for a month.
SINCE
We use ‘since’ mainly with the present perfect tense. It tells us when something started in the past so that we know how long it is between when something started and the present.
- I’ve lived in London since 2004.
- She’s been here since 2 pm.
- They’ve studied French since January.
We can also use ‘since’ with a clause. (The clause is generally in the past simple.)
- I’ve loved chocolate since I was a child.
- He hasn’t run since he broke his ankle.
- He has lived alone since his wife died.
Exercise 1. For or during?
Put in 'for' or
'during'.
1) Can I take you out for dinner ___________your visit to London?
2) She met Amanda twice ____________the summer holidays.
3) I lived in Madrid____________three years.
4) He went to Paris ___________a week.
5) I chatted to Lucy ___________the party.
6) We stayed at the seaside____________three days.
7) They heard a noise ___________the night.
8) They went camping___________two weeks.
9) He drank coffee_______the meeting.
10) She's going to play tennis__________two hours
Answers
1. during
Exercise 2. During
or while?
Choose 'during' or 'while'.
1) Amy hurt herself _____________the game.
2) He met my parents___________we were in London.
3) He played computer games___________we were talking.
4) They called us___________the meeting.
5) He came to the house__________we were away.
6) The fire alarm sounded ____________the night.
7) We ate lunch ____________the flight.
8) She arrived spoke to Julia__________the party.
9) They broke a plate____________I was in the other room.
10) She stayed in a hotel____________she was travelling.
Answers
1. during 2. while 3. while 4. during 5. while 6. during
7. during 8. during 9. while 10. while
Exercise 3. For or since?
Put in 'for' or
'since'.
1) This building has been here __________the 18th century.
2) She has worked at that school ________the 2nd of June.
3) The children have been in the garden_________hours.
4) He has lived in Moscow ___________2013.
5) We have waited _____________two hours.
6) He has studied Spanish____________six months.
7) She has drunk coffee ___________she moved to Italy.
8) This building has been here____________three hundred years.
9) He has been in London ___________Tuesday.
10) He has been in London_________three days.
11) I have been here_____________five hours.
12) She has wanted a cat_____________she moved to Paris.
13) We have waited______________6 pm.
14) I have been here_____________10 am.
15) She has wanted a cat_______________years.
16) He has lived in Moscow ____________six years.
17) She has worked at that school__________a few weeks.
18) She has drunk coffee__________years.
19) The children have been in the garden__________breakfast time.
20) He has studied Spanish ____________February.