from ... to gives the start and end of a period. until gives the end. since gives a start point in the past, up to now, and goes with the present perfect. for gives a length of time (for three days, never since three days).
A from ... to
from ... to = the start and the end of a period.
You can also say from ... until.
- We lived in Dublin from 2005 to 2012.
- I work from Tuesday to Saturday.
- We lived in Dublin from 2005 until 2012.
B until
until + the end of a period: until Friday, until December, until 3 o'clock, until I come back.
till means the same as until.
until Monday answers How long? on Monday answers When?
- My parents leave on Friday. They'll be in Spain until the end of the month.
- I went to bed early, but I couldn't sleep. I read until two o'clock.
- Stay here until I get back.
- Stay here till I get back.
- "How long will you be away?" "Until Monday."
- "When are you coming back?" "On Monday."
C since
since + a point in the past, and the time runs up to now: since Monday, since 1998, since 2.30, since I arrived.
since belongs with the present perfect (have been, have done etc.).
Set the two side by side: we lived in Dublin until 2012 (that stretch is over); we have lived in Cork since 2012 (from 2012 up to today).
- Gran is in hospital. She has been in hospital since Monday. (= from Monday to now)
- Mr and Mrs Patel got married in 1998. They have been married since then. (= from 1998 to now)
- It has been snowing since I got up.
- We lived in Dublin from 2005 to 2012.
- We lived in Dublin until 2012.
- Now we live in Cork. We moved to Cork in 2012.
- We have lived in Cork since 2012. (= from 2012 until now)
D for
for + a length of time: for three days, for ten years, for ten minutes, for ages.
A length of time takes for, never since: she has been in hospital for a week (not since a week).
- Gran has been in hospital for a week. (not since a week)
- My cousin stayed with us for a week.
- I'm going away for a few days.
- I'm going to Brighton for the weekend.
- They've been married for twenty years.
Exercises
104.1 Read the information about these people. Today is 2026. Complete the sentences 1 to 9 with from ... to, until or since; then write sentences 10 to 16 with for. Sam: lives in Wales now; lived in Scotland before; moved to Wales in 2016. Nora: lives in Italy now; lived in Spain before; moved to Italy in 2018. Ian: works in a bank now; worked in a shop before; started at the bank in 2020. Lou: is a photographer now; was a waiter before; became a photographer in 2014.
(Sam / Scotland / 2006 to 2016) Sam lived ...
Sam lived in Scotland from 2006 to 2016.
Sam lived in Scotland from 2006 to 2016.
(Sam / Scotland / up to 2016) Sam lived ...
Sam lived in Scotland until 2016.
(Sam / Wales / 2016 up to now) Sam has lived ...
Sam has lived in Wales since 2016.
(Nora / Spain / up to 2018) Nora lived ...
Nora lived in Spain until 2018.
(Nora / Italy / 2018 up to now) Nora has lived ...
Nora has lived in Italy since 2018.
(Ian / a shop / 2015 to 2020) Ian worked ...
Ian worked in a shop from 2015 to 2020.
(Ian / a bank / 2020 up to now) Ian has worked ...
Ian has worked in a bank since 2020.
(Lou / a waiter / 2010 to 2014) Lou was ...
Lou was a waiter from 2010 to 2014.
(Lou / a photographer / 2014 up to now) Lou has been ...
Lou has been a photographer since 2014.
(Sam / Scotland) Sam lived ...
Sam lived in Scotland for ten years.
Sam lived in Scotland for ten years.
(Sam / Wales) Sam has lived ...
Sam has lived in Wales for ten years.
(Nora / Italy) Nora has lived ...
Nora has lived in Italy for eight years.
(Ian / a shop) Ian worked ...
Ian worked in a shop for five years.
(Ian / a bank) Ian has worked ...
Ian has worked in a bank for six years.
(Lou / a waiter) Lou was ...
Lou was a waiter for four years.
(Lou / a photographer) Lou has been ...
Lou has been a photographer for twelve years.
104.2 Put in until, since or for.
untilsincefor
Mr and Mrs Patel have been married since 1998.
Mr and Mrs Patel have been married since 1998.
It was my day off, so I stayed in bed eleven o'clock.
It was my day off, so I stayed in bed until eleven o'clock.
We waited for the taxi forty minutes, but it never came.
We waited for the taxi for forty minutes, but it never came.
"Have you just got here?" "No, I've been here ten past six."
"Have you just got here?" "No, I've been here since ten past six."
"When did you leave the party?" "Not two in the morning."
"When did you leave the party?" "Not until two in the morning."
Mia and I are old friends. We've known each other fifteen years.
Mia and I are old friends. We've known each other for fifteen years.
I've got a headache. I'm going to lie down half an hour.
I've got a headache. I'm going to lie down for half an hour.
Keep your seatbelt on the plane stops.
Keep your seatbelt on until the plane stops.
This is my old school. I've known the head teacher I was eleven.
This is my old school. I've known the head teacher since I was eleven.
Ravi has gone to a conference. He'll be away Thursday.
Ravi has gone to a conference. He'll be away until Thursday.
Next month I'm going to Berlin four days.
Next month I'm going to Berlin for four days.
I normally finish at five, but sometimes I work seven.
I normally finish at five, but sometimes I work until seven.
"How long have you known Zoe?" " we were at college together."
"How long have you known Zoe?" "Since we were at college together."
At last! I've been standing outside the cinema forty minutes.
At last! I've been standing outside the cinema for forty minutes.