words “for” & “since”:

We often use “for” and “since” when talking about time.

A period is duration of time.

For example: 6 minutes; 3 weeks; 5 years; 8 days.

“For” means: "from the beginning of the period until the end of the period."

A point is a precise moment in time.

For example: 10 o'clock; 1st of January; Tuesday.

“Since” means: "from a point in the past until now."

“Since” is normally used with perfect tenses.

“For” is a period from start to end.

For 22 minutes…for 4 days…for 9 months…for 7 years…for 3 centuries…for a very long time…for ever.

“Since” is a point up to now.

Since 8 am…since Friday…since October…since 1999…since I left work…since the beginning of time.

“For” can be used with all tenses.

Here are some examples:

They study for three hours every day.

They are studying for four hours today.

He has lived in Osaka for a long time.

He has been living in Paris for five months.

I worked at that bank for eight years.

Will the universe continue for ever and ever?

“For” is not used with "all week", "all the time", “all day”, etc...

I was there all day.

Do not say: “I was there for all day”.

“Since” is normally used with perfect tenses:

He has been here since 10 am.

She has been working since she arrived.

I had lived in Chicago since my childhood.

“Since” can also be used in the “period since...”

It is 2 years since I saw her.

How long is it since you got married?

Both “for” and “since” also have different meanings, with no reference to time.

Here are some examples:

This is for Mr. Yamamoto.

Is this the train for Sapporo?

Since you ask, I'll say yes.

Since she didn't study, she didn't pass the exam.

Proper Nouns:

A “proper noun” is the special word, or name, which we use for a person, place, animal, thing or organization; like the words Timothy, Miko, London, China, Beagle, Cockatoo, Dell or Honda.

A name is a noun, but a “proper noun”.

“Proper nouns” have special rules.

We always use a Capital Letter for the first letter of a “proper noun”.

This includes names of people, places, companies, days of the week and months.

For example:

They like Kenji. Not: They like kenji.

I live in Australia.

She works for Mitsubishi.

The last day in June is a Sunday.

We saw Harry Potter in the Virgin Cinema.

Tongue Twisters:

1. Nice, noble, Ned Nakamura, never notices noisy neighbors.
　Naughty naked natives, need nimble nutty nursemaids.

2. Only oxen on ostriches, open overweight objects.
　Obedient orangutans, observe old octopuses.

3. Pygmy puzzles, positively petrify, proud Patrick.
　Pretty Peruvian passengers, peacefully pass painted pagodas.

4. Quack Quakers, quickly quiet Queens.
　Quaint quilters, question queer-looking quarters.

5. Rambling raccoons, rarely read rulers.
　Russian rum, really relaxes roaming rhinoceroses.

6. Sexy Singapore snakes, sometimes sleep soundly.
　Sad, silly, sailors, simply savor spicy sausages.

7. Tall trains, travel together towards Tokyo.
　Twelve tricky turtles, taste toasted tulip tea.

info@roswalle.com