Series ID: EDKS-BASIC-ZH-0045 · Lesson No.045 · A2 Present Perfect Duration

Present Perfect with For and Since | 用 for 和 since 表持续时间

I’ve lived here for three years. I’ve worked here since 2024.
我在这里住了三年了。我从 2024 年开始就在这里工作。

This lesson adds a second major present-perfect use: a situation that started in the past and continues now.

这一课学习现在完成时另一个高频功能：过去开始、现在仍然继续的状态或活动。

Chinese Edition Hub · 中文版入口 · ← Lesson No.044 · A2 Review and Independent English

The duration map | 持续时间路线

have/has + past participle
for = duration
since = starting point
How long…?
still true now
state verbs
live/work/know/have
been + adjective/location
finished past vs continuing present
ago vs for/since
all day/week/year
Mandarin 一直/从…开始 transfer

1. The core meaning | 核心意思

I started in the past + it is still true now.

I’ve lived here for three years. → I still live here.
She’s worked there since June. → She still works there.

2. For = duration | for 表一段时间

for two hours
for three days
for six months
for ten years

for answers “how much time?”

3. Since = starting point | since 表起点

since Monday
since June
since 2024
since I was a child

since answers “starting when?”

4. For three years vs since 2023 | 时长 vs 起点

I’ve lived here for three years.
I’ve lived here since 2023.

Same continuing situation, different time view.

5. How long…? | 多久？

How long have you lived here?
How long has she worked there?
How long have they known each other?

6. Short answers | 简短回答

For three years.
Since 2022.
Since last summer.

7. Full answers | 完整回答

I’ve lived here for three years.
She’s worked there since 2022.

8. Live | 居住

I’ve lived here for five years.
We’ve lived in this flat since 2021.

9. Work | 工作

I’ve worked here for two years.
She has worked at the school since January.

10. Know | 认识

I’ve known Anna for ten years.
We’ve known each other since university.

know is usually a state verb, so present perfect simple is natural here.

11. Have | 拥有

I’ve had this phone for two years.
She’s had that car since 2024.

Notice: have → had → had.

12. Be + adjective | be + 形容词

I’ve been busy all week.
She’s been tired since this morning.

13. Be + location | be + 地点

I’ve been at home since six.
We’ve been here for an hour.

14. Study | 学习

I’ve studied English for two years.
I’ve studied at this school since 2025.

Depending on context, learners may also meet present perfect continuous later.

15. Wait | 等待

I’ve waited for twenty minutes.

In natural English, I’ve been waiting for twenty minutes is often more common for an ongoing action. This lesson keeps focus on the simple form first and flags the continuous form as the next layer.

16. State verbs are especially common | 状态动词很常见

know
have
like
believe
understand

These often fit present perfect simple for continuing states.

17. How long have you known…? | 认识多久？

How long have you known David?
I’ve known him for five years.

18. How long have you had…? | 拥有多久？

How long have you had this laptop?
I’ve had it since last year.

19. Finished past vs continuing now | 结束 vs 仍继续

I lived there for three years. → finished; I do not live there now.
I’ve lived there for three years. → continues now.

20. Simple past with finished period | 已结束的时间段

I worked there from 2020 to 2023.
She lived in Beijing for five years, then moved.

Finished period → simple past.

21. Present perfect with unfinished period | 未结束的状态

I’ve worked here since 2023.
She’s lived here for five years.

22. Ago vs for | ago 和 for

I moved here three years ago.
I’ve lived here for three years.

ago locates a past event; for measures duration.

23. Since + event | since + 事件

I’ve lived here since I started this job.
She’s known him since they were children.

24. Since then | 从那以后

I moved here in 2022. I’ve lived here since then.

25. All day / all week | 整天 / 整周

I’ve been busy all day.
She’s been away all week.

26. Today / this week | 未结束时间段

I’ve had three meetings today.
We’ve been very busy this week.

If the time period is still open, present perfect may be natural.

27. This morning can be finished or unfinished | this morning 看时间点

At 10 AM, this morning is still current; at night, it is finished. Tense choice can change with viewpoint.

28. Ever since | 从那以后一直

Recognition/useful:

I’ve enjoyed reading ever since I was a child.

29. For a long time | 很长时间

I’ve known her for a long time.

30. For ages | 很久（非正式）

I haven’t seen him for ages. — informal recognition

31. Since when? | 从什么时候开始？

Possible but less common than How long…? in many everyday situations.

32. Negative continuing state | 持续否定状态

I haven’t seen her for two weeks.
He hasn’t worked since Monday.

Meaning depends on verb and context.

33. Present result vs duration | 结果 vs 持续

I’ve lost my key. → result now.
I’ve had this key for five years. → duration.

34. Experience vs duration | 经历 vs 持续

I’ve been to Japan twice. → experience.
I’ve lived in Japan for two years. → duration.

35. One tense, different uses | 同一时态，不同功能

The present perfect connects past and present in several ways. Do not force all examples into one Chinese translation.

36. Mandarin transfer: 一直 | “一直”不等于一个词

我一直住在这里。 → I’ve lived here for/since…
我一直很忙。 → I’ve been busy…

English usually needs a time frame or context.

37. Mandarin transfer: 从…开始 | since often fits

从 2024 年开始，我就在这里工作。 → I’ve worked here since 2024.

38. Mandarin transfer: 住了三年了 | present perfect duration

我在这里住了三年了。 → I’ve lived here for three years.

Chinese aspect particles and context do not map one-to-one onto English tense.

39. Common error: since three years | 错误

since three years ✗
for three years ✓

40. Common error: for 2024 | 错误

for 2024 ✗
since 2024 ✓

41. Common error: I live here since… | 时态错误

I live here since 2023. ✗
I’ve lived here since 2023. ✓

42. Common error: I’ve lived there from 2020 to 2023 | finished period

I’ve lived there from 2020 to 2023. ✗ for a finished period
I lived there from 2020 to 2023. ✓

43. Listening: contractions | 听缩写

I’ve lived
she’s worked
we’ve known
hasn’t been

44. Listening: for and since can be weak | for/since 在句中可能较弱

Listen for the whole time chunk: for three years, since last May.

45. Reading practice A: work history | 阅读 A

Mei started working at a language school in 2023. She still works there today. She has worked at the school since 2023, and she has known some of her colleagues for more than three years. Before that, she worked at a different company from 2020 to 2022.

Does Mei still work at the school?
Since when?
How long has she known some colleagues?
Which job is finished?

46. Reading practice B: home | 阅读 B

David moved into his flat two years ago. He has lived there for two years. He has had the same neighbour since he moved in. Before this flat, he lived with his parents for several years.

When did David move?
How long has he lived there?
Since when has he known the neighbour?
Which living situation is finished?

47. Reading practice C: learning | 阅读 C

Anna has studied English for eighteen months. She started with short beginner lessons and has used English every day since January. She has felt more confident this year because she now speaks with colleagues regularly.

How long has Anna studied English?
Since when has she used English daily?
What has changed this year?

48. Writing practice: duration profile | 写持续时间

Use fictional information if preferred. Write six sentences about:

where you live
work/study
one person you know
one object you have
one hobby
one current routine

49. Speaking practice: How long interview | 多久采访

How long have you lived…?
How long have you studied…?
How long have you known…?

50. Timeline practice | 时间线练习

Draw:

2023 ───────── NOW

Sentence: I’ve worked here since 2023.

51. Error clinic | 常见错误

Error	Better English	What broke?
since three years ✗	for three years ✓	duration
for 2024 ✗	since 2024 ✓	starting point
I live here since 2023. ✗	I’ve lived here since 2023. ✓	continuing situation
I’ve worked there from 2020 to 2022. ✗	I worked there from 2020 to 2022. ✓	finished period
How long do you live here? △	How long have you lived here? ✓	duration to now

52. First weak link diagnosis | 第一个卡点诊断

I mix for/since → duration vs starting point.
I use present simple with since → tense choice.
I use present perfect for finished periods → finished/continuing distinction.
I understand statements but not How long questions → question frame.
I know grammar but cannot hear contractions → listening chunk.

53. Retrieval lab | 提取练习

我在这里住了三年了。 → ______
我从 2024 年开始在这里工作。 → ______
你在这里住多久了？ → ______
我认识她十年了。 → ______
我这个手机用了两年了。 → ______
我昨天搬来的。 → ______
我三年前搬来的。 → ______

Suggested answers: I’ve lived here for three years. / I’ve worked here since 2024. / How long have you lived here? / I’ve known her for ten years. / I’ve had this phone for two years. / I moved here yesterday. / I moved here three years ago.

54. Ten-minute daily practice | 每天十分钟

2 min	for durations	时长
2 min	since points	起点
2 min	How long?	问句
2 min	finished vs continuing	时态选择
2 min	one interview	口语

55. Seven-day training cycle | 七天训练

Day 1	for	时长
Day 2	since	起点
Day 3	How long	问答
Day 4	live/work/know/have	高频状态
Day 5	past vs present perfect	结束/持续
Day 6	listening contractions	听力
Day 7	two-minute duration interview	综合

56. Self-test: 30 questions | 30 题自测

What does for show?
What does since show?
Use for two years.
Use since 2024.
Ask How long…?
Use live with for.
Use work with since.
Use know with for.
Use have with since.
Use been + adjective.
Explain finished past vs continuing present.
Use ago.
Use since then.
Use all week.
Explain experience vs duration.
Correct: since three years.
Correct: for 2024.
Correct: I live here since 2023.
Correct: I’ve worked there from 2020 to 2022.
Ask how long someone has known a friend.
Answer for ten years.
Answer since university.
Give one continuing-state sentence.
Give one finished-period sentence.
Explain Chinese 一直 as a bridge.
Explain why it is not one-to-one.
Write three for sentences.
Write three since sentences.
Hold a one-minute How long interview.
Explain your tense choice in one example.

Answer key | 答案

1 duration; 2 starting point; 3–15 answers vary; 16 for three years; 17 since 2024; 18 I’ve lived here since 2023; 19 I worked there from 2020 to 2022; 20–30 performance answers vary.

57. For parents and teachers | 给家长和老师

Use timelines. Learners should see the line continuing to NOW.

Contrast pairs are essential: I lived there for three years vs I’ve lived there for three years.

For Mandarin speakers, use 一直/从…开始 as meaning bridges while teaching English tense choice explicitly.

Keep the scope focused before introducing present perfect continuous.

58. Final real-world challenge | 最终真实任务

Use five for phrases.
Use five since phrases.
Ask five How long questions.
Use live/work/know/have.
Distinguish finished and continuing periods.
Use ago correctly.
Explain one life duration.
Understand contractions.
Write a short duration profile.
Hold a two-minute duration conversation.

Next: Lesson No.046 | 下一课

Duration tells us what has continued until now. The next lesson looks forward: use the first conditional to connect a real future condition with the action, result or plan that follows.

Lesson No.046 · First Conditional for Real Plans · 第一条件句与真实计划

Reference floor: British Council A2 Pre-intermediate · British Council A1–A2 Grammar.

Small Group Tutorials

How to Learn Basic English (Chinese Edition) | Lesson No.045 | Present Perfect with For and Since | 用 for 和 since 表持续时间