Grammar Basics
Day 13 · 30 Days English Challenge
For, Since, During and While: Say When and How Long
· 5 min read
Day 13 speaking goal: Explain how long something lasts, when it started and what happened alongside it.
For answers how long. Since gives a starting time. During and while connect an action to another event.
Jump to: Rules · Compare · Examples · Self-checks · Answers
13.1 For: how long?
| Learn | Simple English |
|---|---|
| Rule | Use for with a length of time. It works with past, present and future meanings. |
| Pattern | For + length of time. |
| Example | We stayed for three days. We will stay for three days. |
| Why | Three days answers how long. For is not only used with perfect tenses. |
13.2 Since: from when?
| Learn | Simple English |
|---|---|
| Rule | Use since for the starting time of a period. Present perfect often connects that start with now. |
| Pattern | Since Monday. Since 2020. Since we met. |
| Example | I have lived here since 2020. |
| Why | I started living here in 2020 and still live here. Since can also mean because in other sentences. |
13.3 During: name the event
| Learn | Simple English |
|---|---|
| Rule | Put a noun or noun phrase after during. It names the event or period when something happens. |
| Pattern | During + event name. |
| Example | My phone rang during the meeting. |
| Why | During the meeting is correct. Do not say during I was meeting my friend. |
13.4 While: say what was happening
| Learn | Simple English |
|---|---|
| Rule | Put a person and a verb after while to describe an action happening at the same time. |
| Pattern | While + person + verb. |
| Example | I read while I was waiting. |
| Why | The reading happened during the wait. While waiting is also possible when the person is clear. |
13.5 Compare the patterns side by side
| Question | Expression | Following structure |
|---|---|---|
| How long? | for | a duration: for two hours |
| From when? | since | a start: since Monday / since we met |
| Within which period? | during | a noun phrase: during the flight |
| Alongside what action? | while | a clause: while I was waiting |
13.6 Everyday examples: notice the meaning
We stayed for three days.
💡 A finished duration.
We will stay for three days.
💡 A future duration.
I have waited for an hour.
💡 A duration continuing to now.
She has lived here since 2020.
💡 A starting year.
We have been here since noon.
💡 A starting clock time.
I have known him since we met.
💡 Since we met gives the event when the period started.
Since it was late, we went home.
💡 Here since gives a reason.
I slept during the flight.
💡 Flight is a noun naming the period.
The lights went out during dinner.
💡 The event occurred within dinner.
We talked during the break.
💡 The break names the period.
I took notes for twenty minutes.
💡 This measures duration.
I took notes during the meeting.
💡 This identifies the event period.
I read while I was waiting.
💡 While joins two actions happening at the same time.
She cooked while I set the table.
💡 Both actions occurred together.
Please wait while I check.
💡 A person and a present-tense verb follow while here.
While walking home, I called her.
💡 While walking is short for while I was walking here.
We have practised since Monday.
💡 The start connects to now.
We practised for an hour yesterday.
💡 A finished past duration.
13.7 Common mistakes and why
❌ I have lived here since three years.
✅ I have lived here for three years.
Three years measures length, not a start.
❌ During I waited, I read.
✅ While I waited, I read.
Before a person and verb, use while here. During needs an event name.
❌ I slept while the flight.
✅ I slept during the flight.
A noun phrase naming the period follows during.
13.8 Try it yourself
Step 1: Describe an activity using for and a length of time.
Step 2: Say when an ongoing situation started using since.
Step 3: Describe one event with during and one with while.
13.9 Five self-checks
Choose A or B for each question. Read the answers below after you finish.
1. Choose the missing word: “I have been waiting ___ two hours.”
A. for
B. since
2. Choose the missing word: “I have been here ___ Monday.”
A. for
B. since
3. Choose the missing word: “My phone rang ___ the meeting.”
A. while
B. during
4. Choose the missing word: “The phone rang ___ I was cooking.”
A. while
B. during
5. “We stayed for three days last week.” Is for correct here?
A. Yes, it tells us how long the visit lasted.
B. No, for only works with have or has.
Self-check answers and explanations
1. A — for
💡 Two hours is a length of time, so use for.
2. B — since
💡 Monday gives the starting time, so use since.
3. B — during
💡 During goes before the event name: the meeting.
4. A — while
💡 I was cooking has a person and a verb. Use while before it.
5. A — Yes, it tells us how long the visit lasted.
💡 For can describe a length of time in the past, present or future.
13.10 Remember these points
For: two hours. Since: two o’clock.
During: the lesson.
While: I was studying.
Review any self-check you missed. Then say three examples aloud without looking.
Further reading: since and for · present perfect tense
Grammar references: Cambridge: During · Cambridge: While and whilst