For, Since and During are often confused by non-native English speakers. Let’s have a look at why.

All of these prepositions are used to express time. For and since express lengths of time while during is used to say something happened during a specific time or event.

Typical mistakes:

• I have lived in California since 5 years.

• I lived in New York during 2 years.

Correct Usage:

For is used to express a quantity of time.

The correct structure is for + a quantity of time.

• ie: I lived in New York for 2 years.

Since is used to say that something has been true or happening since a specific time, date, day or period in the past.

The correct structure is since + a specific time.

• ie: I have lived in New York since 2007.

*Notice: since is normally used with the present perfect or present perfect continuous tense*

During is a bit different. During is used to say that something happened during an event.

The correct structure is during + a noun- usually an event.

• ie: I fell asleep during the movie.

I hope that clears things up. Let me know in the comments.

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