Present Perfect with For and Since 2: Progress and Change
Give a precise update: what has continued, what has changed and what is complete.
By the end: Describe continuing situations, recent work and completed results; explain time expressions and negatives without changing the facts.
Try the activities, then check your answers.
Try each task before revealing its answer. Say your speaking answers aloud, or write if needed.
Try first, then use the follow-up questions to explain and improve your choices.
The quick answer
For gives a duration; since identifies its starting point. Choose the perfect form separately: simple for a state or completed total, continuous to foreground an activity. A precise update tells the listener both how long something has been happening and what has actually been achieved.
A group is preparing a small exhibition. Everyone has been busy, but being busy and finishing the work are not the same thing. Your job is to give an accurate update.
1. Make the timeline precise
For the past three weeks describes a period reaching up to now. Since the project began gives the event that starts that period. Both can accompany the same ongoing activity.
Use a past-simple clause for a completed starting event: since we changed the schedule. Ever since adds emphasis to the connection with that starting point; it does not mean an activity happens every second.
A finished period needs a different frame: I worked on the old project for three weeks, then left. For does not automatically require the present perfect.
Duration
We’ve been preparing the exhibition for the past three weeks.
Starting event
We’ve been preparing the exhibition since the group approved the idea.
Emphasised starting point
I’ve felt more confident ever since I joined the group.
Notice: For the past three weeks is a duration. Since last Tuesday is a starting point. The word last does not determine your choice.
Play an example, repeat it, then change one detail.
2. Separate effort from achievement
Give each sentence a job. A continuous form foregrounds work in progress or repeated activity. A simple form can report a completed total or a continuing state.
We’ve been designing six posters does not establish that all six are finished. We’ve designed six posters presents six completed designs. A number can appear with a continuous form; it does not turn the activity into a completed result.
With verbs such as work and live, both perfect forms can describe a continuing situation. Explain the difference in focus rather than declaring one form wrong. Use the simple for know when it describes knowledge.
Activity
We’ve been contacting local artists since Monday.
Completed result
We’ve received eight replies since Monday.
Continuing state
We’ve known about the display problem for a fortnight.
Notice: Recent activity may have just stopped. The continuous alone does not prove that someone is doing it at this exact moment, or that no work is finished.
Play an example, repeat it, then change one detail.
3. Explain gaps and repeated problems
I haven’t received any replies since Monday says there have been no replies in that period. I haven’t been receiving many replies for the past month describes a low level of response; it does not by itself establish zero replies.
You can describe the gap after a last event in different ways: We haven’t met for six weeks. It’s been six weeks since we last met. In this context, both describe the time since the most recent meeting.
In It’s been six weeks, it’s means it has. Put the duration after been, and the last event after since. It’s six weeks since we last met is also possible; practise the perfect version here.
No event in the period
We haven’t heard from the organiser since Friday.
Repeated problem
We haven’t been getting clear answers for the past month.
Time since the last event
It’s been six weeks since we last met.
Notice: Do not turn a low number into zero, or a period of effort into a claim that the whole project is finished.
Play an example, repeat it, then change one detail.
An exhibition update
Listen without the transcript. Note one duration, one completed result and one unresolved problem.
Listen again. Explain why two different perfect forms are needed in the update.
Listening check 1
How long has the group been preparing the exhibition?
Reveal the answer and evidence
For the past three weeks.
In the recording: We’ve been preparing our exhibition for the past three weeks.
Listening check 2
What is complete, and what is still in progress?
Reveal the answer and evidence
Four interviews have been recorded. Two more interviews are still being arranged; the update does not say the whole exhibition is ready.
In the recording: We’ve recorded four interviews since then, but we’re still arranging two more.
Listening check 3
Which sentence makes clear that there has been no reply from the printer?
Reveal the answer and evidence
We haven’t heard from the printer since Friday. This concerns the printer, not the separate messages from visitors.
In the recording: We haven’t heard from the printer since Friday.
Read the listening transcript
We’ve been preparing our exhibition for the past three weeks. I’ve known the other organisers for years, but this is our first project together. Since we agreed on the theme, we’ve been contacting people with interesting local stories. We’ve recorded four interviews since then, but we’re still arranging two more. I’ve been editing the recordings for the past fortnight. It’s been six weeks since we last met in person, so most of our planning happens online. We haven’t heard from the printer since Friday. However, we’ve received two messages from potential visitors this week. We haven’t been receiving many enquiries for the past week, so those messages are encouraging. The project isn’t ready yet, but the progress is real.
Repeat one sentence. Change the details but keep its meaning and time frame.
All examples and listening
Choose an example or play the full recording.
Libby · British English · Synthetic model voice
Read the complete master transcript
We’ve been preparing the exhibition for the past three weeks. We’ve been preparing the exhibition since the group approved the idea.
I’ve felt more confident ever since I joined the group.
We’ve been contacting local artists since Monday. We’ve received eight replies since Monday.
We’ve known about the display problem for a fortnight.
We haven’t heard from the organiser since Friday. We haven’t been getting clear answers for the past month.
We haven’t met for six weeks. It’s been six weeks since we last met.
We’ve been preparing our exhibition for the past three weeks. I’ve known the other organisers for years, but this is our first project together. Since we agreed on the theme, we’ve been contacting people with interesting local stories. We’ve recorded four interviews since then, but we’re still arranging two more. I’ve been editing the recordings for the past fortnight. It’s been six weeks since we last met in person, so most of our planning happens online. We haven’t heard from the printer since Friday. However, we’ve received two messages from potential visitors this week. We haven’t been receiving many enquiries for the past week, so those messages are encouraging. The project isn’t ready yet, but the progress is real.
The recorded interviews and the whole exhibition have different completion states
These four recordings are completed results.
These two are being arranged; the update does not count them as completed recordings.
Finishing four recordings is real progress, but it is not the same as finishing the exhibition.
Practise: four precise changes
Write or say your answer first. Then reveal the model and compare the meaning.
1. Repair the ongoing update: ‘I am coordinating the exhibition since the group approved the idea.’
Show the model and explanation
I’ve been coordinating the exhibition since the group approved the idea.
Also possible:
I’ve coordinated the exhibition since the group approved the idea.
Use a perfect form for the period from the starting event to now. The continuous foregrounds the ongoing work; the simple can also describe a continuing role.
2. Repair both errors: ‘We’ve been knowing about the delay since a fortnight.’
Show the model and explanation
We’ve known about the delay for a fortnight.
Know describes a state here. A fortnight is a duration, not a starting point.
3. Our last meeting was six weeks ago. We have not met again. Rewrite with for, then begin It’s been.
Show the model and explanation
We haven’t met for six weeks. It’s been six weeks since we last met.
Also possible:
We have not met for six weeks. It has been six weeks since we last met.
Both versions preserve the gap since the last meeting. A sentence about meeting regularly for six weeks would change the facts.
4. All three applications are complete. Rewrite to report that result: ‘I’ve been reviewing three applications since Monday.’
Show the model and explanation
I’ve reviewed three applications since Monday.
The original can describe the review process, so it is not automatically ungrammatical. The simple makes the completed total explicit.
These are unscored. Check the intended meaning; other meaning-preserving answers are possible.
Mastery quiz
Choose one answer per question, then check all eight. Every choice has feedback.
Answer key with explanations
launched Correct. Launched identifies the completed event from which the continuing activity is measured.
for the past fortnight Correct. The past fortnight is the two-week period leading up to now.
We’ve recorded five interviews since Tuesday. Correct. The simple presents five completed recordings in the period from Tuesday to now.
Both can describe a continuing situation; the continuous foregrounds the activity. Correct. Both are possible; context and the speaker’s focus matter.
The level of response has been low; the exact number is not given. Correct. The sentence describes a low level of response over the period, without giving an exact total.
I’ve been preparing for two weeks. / I’ve been preparing since 4 May. Correct. The duration is two weeks and the starting point is 4 May.
since we last met Correct. Since we last met identifies the event from which the six-week gap is measured.
Preparation has taken place over three weeks, but the exhibition is not yet fully ready. Correct. The sentences distinguish the period of preparation from the completed and unfinished displays.
This checks this lesson, not your overall English level.
Optional writing
Write a 100–120-word progress message using the same four elements. Underline each time expression and check the timeline.
Compare a writing model
We’ve been preparing a photography exhibition for the past month. I’ve known the other organisers for several years, but this is our first project together. Since we agreed on the theme, we’ve selected twenty photographs and written captions for twelve of them. We’ve also been contacting local businesses for support. We haven’t received any replies from the two cafés since we emailed them on Monday. It’s been a week since we last discussed the budget, so that needs attention. The main problem is printing: eight photographs are still not ready. Our next priority is to confirm the final costs and finish the remaining captions.
Tutor extension
Open the 60-minute tutor route
Quick answer 3 min · Teaching 12 min · Listening 8 min · Practice 8 min · Quiz 9 min · Speaking 15 min · Exit check 5 min.
Use the longer speaking allocation for an information-gap update. Hide these notes from the learner until it is their turn to report.
Round 1 facts: It is 18 May. The learner began preparing a display on 4 May and is still preparing it. Five panels are finished; two are unfinished. Their last meeting with the organiser was on 20 April, with no meeting since. They have had no reply from the printer since 15 May.
Task: Give a short update without adding facts. The partner asks for a duration, starting point and completed total.
Compare a possible response
Possible response: I’ve been preparing the display for two weeks, since 4 May. I’ve finished five panels, but two still need work. It’s been four weeks since I last met the organiser. I haven’t heard from the printer since 15 May.
Round 2: The printer sends one brief reply. Ask the learner to update only what is now different. The zero-reply claim is no longer true; it is not enough to keep the old sentence unchanged.
Compare a possible response
Possible revision: I’ve now received a brief reply from the printer, but I still need confirmation of the delivery date. The rest of the update remains unchanged.
Feedback: Prioritise coherent timelines and justified claims. A continuous form with a number can describe work on that set of items; it is not automatically a grammatical error. Correct ‘since two weeks’, ‘have been knowing’ and mismatched date/duration pairs. Accept both simple and continuous where the meaning allows them.