عندما نستخدم المضارع التام، يُمْكِننا الإشارة إلى فترة زمنية سابقة للوقت الحالي إما بتحديد مدتها الزمنية عن طريق استخدام for +المدة الزمنية أو بتحديد نقطة بداية الحَدَث عن طريق استخدام since + النقطة الزمنية. يُمْكِن استخدام كل من FOR و SINCE مع زمن الماضي التام أيضًا. تُسْتَخْدَم SINCE مع الأزمنة التامة فقط، بينما يُمْكِن استخدام FOR مع زمن الماضي البسيط.

For + مدة زمنية

for six years, for a week, for a month, for hours, for two hours
I have worked here for five years.

Since + نقطة زمنية

since this morning, since last week, since yesterday
since I was a child, since Wednesday, since 2 o’clock
I have worked here since 1990.

المضارع التام مع FOR

She has lived here for twenty years.
We have taught at this school for a long time.
Alice has been married forthree months.
They have been at the hotel for a week.

المضارع التام مع SINCE

She has lived here since 1980.
We have taught at this school since 1965.
Alice has been married since March 2nd.
They have been at the hotel since last Tuesday.