For shows how long something has lasted (for three years), while since shows the moment it started (since 2020). If the action began in the past and is still going on, both need the present perfect, have/has + past participle: I've lived here for three years, I've lived here since 2021.
since or for — can you pick the right one?
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have/has + past participle + for + period (for two weeks, for ages); have/has + past participle + since + point in time (since Monday, since 2020, since I was a child)
- I've known Kate since we were at school together.
- We've been waiting for the bus for twenty minutes, and it still isn't here.
- The café has been closed since Monday because of a broken pipe.
What changed
First versionI live in Kazan since 2019 and still love the city.
RevisionI've lived in Kazan since 2019 and still love the city.
The speaker still lives in Kazan, so the present tense I live may seem logical. But in English, when an action started in the past and continues now, since and for go with the present perfect: I've lived.
Don't confuse for with ago. I moved here three years ago refers to a moment in the past, so the verb is in the past simple. I've lived here for three years describes a period that continues up to now. Ago always comes after the length of time.
Your turn
Anna has been our team leader ___ last spring, and everyone likes working with her.
Show the answer
since — Last spring is the starting point, the moment from which Anna has led the team, so the answer is since. For goes before a length of time, such as for a year or for six months, not before the name of a moment.
Write about your work or studies: say how long you've been doing it, using for, and since when you've been in your current place, using since.
I've worked as a nurse for six years, and I've been at this clinic since March.
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