Situations Up
to the Present
I've lived here for ten years · since 2015 · I've known her all my life. Learn how to talk about situations that started in the past and continue now.
Show rules
Unfinished time period — so far, this morning, today, this week
Use the present perfect for actions inside a time period that is still going on:
I've driven 500 km this week. (week hasn't finished)
Have you spoken to Ahmed this morning? (still morning)
We've had four holidays so far this year, and it's only September!
Compare with past simple when the period is finished:
I've made several calls this morning. (still morning)
I made several calls this morning. (now it's afternoon)
Repeated actions
Use the present perfect for repeated actions that may happen again:
I've been there many times. · She's phoned five times already.
How many times have you played Grand Theft Auto?
Situations up to the present — for / since, how long
Use the present perfect (NOT present simple) for situations that started in the past and continue now:
❌ I am married for ten years. → ✅ I've been married for ten years.
❌ We are living here since 2005. → ✅ We've lived here since 2005.
| use | example | |
|---|---|---|
| for | a period of time | for an hour, for many years — David has worked here for ten years. |
| since | a specific time, date or past event | since Tuesday, since 2018, since we got here — I haven't seen her since Tuesday. |
Don't use for with all + time expression:
❌ I've worked there for all my life. → ✅ I've worked there all my life.
The verb after since is usually in the past simple:
John has worked here since he left school. · It's ages since I saw you.
Use How long? in questions about state verbs: How long have you known Alan?
It's (been) ... since
Use it's or it's been + period + since: It's two years since our wedding. · It's been two years since our last meeting.
Superlatives, the first time
Present perfect (often with ever) pairs naturally with superlative adjectives and ordinals:
That was the worst film I've ever seen! · This is the third time I've visited China, but it's the first time I've travelled in business class.
Common mistakes
| ❌ | ✅ |
|---|---|
| I am married for ten years. | I 've been married for ten years. |
| We are living here since 2005. | We 've lived here since 2005. |
| I've worked there for all my life. | I've worked there all my life. |
| I haven't seen her for Tuesday. | I haven't seen her since Tuesday. |
| I haven't been shopping since several days. | I haven't been shopping for several days. |
Frequently Asked Questions
When do you use present perfect for unfinished time periods?
Use present perfect when the time period (today, this morning, this week, this year, so far) is still going on: 'I've driven 500 km this week.' Use past simple when the period is finished: 'I made several calls this morning' (now it's afternoon).
What's the difference between for and since?
Use 'for' with a period of time: for ten years, for an hour. Use 'since' with a specific point in time or a past event: since 2018, since Tuesday, since we got here. Don't use 'for' before 'all + time' — say 'all my life', not 'for all my life'.
Why is 'I am married for ten years' wrong?
For a state that started in the past and continues now, English uses the present perfect, not the present simple or continuous. Say 'I've been married for ten years' or 'We've lived here since 2005' — not 'I am married for ten years' or 'We are living here since 2005'.
What tense goes after 'since'?
The verb after 'since' is usually in the past simple, not the present perfect: 'John has worked here since he left school'; 'It's ages since I saw you.' The present perfect goes in the main clause.