Answer :
Let's work through each exercise step by step.
Part 1: Fill in the blanks with 'for' or 'since'
- for about 200 years
- since 1810
- since 1987
- for ten minutes
- since quarter past three
- for one year
- since July
- since I was eighteen
- for nearly three months
- for about twenty-five years
Part 2: Complete each sentence in two ways
- It's 3.25 and I've been at the dentist's since quarter past three / for ten minutes.
- My parents have been married since 1987 / for about 36 years (assuming current year is 2023).
- I'm nineteen. I started college when I was eighteen. I've been at college since I was eighteen / for one year.
- It's October and the weather has been lovely since July / for about three months.
Part 3: Match the two parts of the sentences.
- I haven't heard from my sister this week, but she usually phones on Fridays.
- This film's so long! It's already lasted for two hours and there's still another hour to go.
- We haven't felt very well since we had that meal at the airport.
- I haven't seen my parents for two months because they live abroad now.
- I'm really sorry but I've been very busy this morning and I haven't finished the report.
- I've felt more relaxed since my holiday - two weeks by the beach.
Part 4: Grammar Exercise (Present Perfect or Past Simple)
- DOCTOR (0) How long have you had this cold?
- PATIENT Well, I (00) 've had' it for nearly two weeks, but I've had a cough for longer.
- DOCTOR How long have you had that?
- PATIENT I've had it (A) since October, so more than a month. The thing is, I (1) have had about five colds (B) since the spring.
- DOCTOR That is a lot. (2) Did you have a lot of colds last year, too?
- PATIENT No, not really. I think I (3) had only two all last year.
- DOCTOR Mmm, (4) have you changed anything about your life this year?
- PATIENT Well, yes, my job. I work in a gym now. I'm a fitness trainer.
- DOCTOR I see. (C) How long have you worked there?
- PATIENT I (5) started the job in March, so I've been there (D) for eight months. We've had a few customers with colds I suppose ...
- DOCTOR I see. And what was your job before?
- PATIENT I was a gardener. I worked by myself.
- DOCTOR Well, that's it. You (6) have spent a lot of time close to people with colds, and you've caught their colds. Now, I think you should...
I hope this helps you understand how to use "for" and "since" correctly, as well as how to choose between present perfect and past simple tenses!