Since vs For: Easy Explanation with Examples (Tamil, Telugu & Hindi)

By Jhansi D Mohan, English & Communication Coach · 10 October 2026

Meanings in:

"I have fever since 3 days" is a very common mistake. The difference between since and for is actually simple once you see it. Here's an easy explanation with examples, explanations in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi, and a quick quiz.

The rule

Word	Use it with	Examples
for	a period of time (how long)	for 3 days, for two years, for an hour, for a long time
since	a starting point (from when)	since Monday, since 2015, since morning, since I was a child

தமிழில் விளக்கம்తెలుగులో వివరణहिंदी में समझें

for = எவ்வளவு காலமாக (கால அளவு): 3 நாட்களாக, இரண்டு வருடங்களாக.
since = எப்போதிலிருந்து (தொடங்கிய நேரம்): திங்கள்கிழமையிலிருந்து, 2015-லிருந்து, காலையிலிருந்து.for = ఎంత కాలంగా (కాల వ్యవధి): 3 రోజులుగా, రెండు సంవత్సరాలుగా.
since = ఎప్పటి నుండి (మొదలైన సమయం): సోమవారం నుండి, 2015 నుండి, ఉదయం నుండి.for = कितने समय से (अवधि): 3 दिन से, दो साल से।
since = कब से (शुरुआत का समय): सोमवार से, 2015 से, सुबह से।

Use "have / has" with since and for

When something started in the past and is still continuing, use have/has + verb, not "am/is".

❌ Don't say	✅ Say
I have fever since 3 days.	I've had a fever for 3 days.
I am waiting since morning.	I've been waiting since morning.
I know her since college.	I've known her since college.
We are living here for 10 years.	We've lived here for 10 years.

Quick quiz: since or for?

I've had a headache ___ yesterday.
She has worked here ___ six months.
We have been married ___ 2015.
He has been studying ___ two hours.
I haven't seen her ___ Diwali.

Show answers

1. since · 2. for · 3. since · 4. for · 5. since

Got them all right? Well done! Try making two sentences about your own life, one with since and one with for, and say them aloud.

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