...

Lesson 3.4 · From the past to the present

For and since in business introductions

When you introduce yourself, you almost always say how long you have been doing something: in your role, at your company, in the industry. It is one of the most important things to get right when you meet someone for the first time.

From How to Use English Verb Tenses in Business by David Cox · 200+ diagrams for professional English

Two mistakes people make very often

These two mistakes are very common – even at advanced level – and they confuse people when you first meet them.

  1. When to use ‘for’ and when to use ‘since’
  2. Which tense to use with ‘for’ and ‘since’

When to use ‘for’ and when to use ‘since’

‘Since’ goes with the start time. ‘For’ goes with the length of time.

We use since + the start time

I have been working at X Company since 2015.

  • since 2015
  • since last week
  • since January
  • since our first meeting

We use for + the length of time
not since

I have been working at X Company for 3 years.

  • sincefor 3 years
  • sincefor 2 months
  • sincefor 1 week
  • sincefor 30 minutes

The present perfect continuous: your best tense for introductions

When we are talking about the length of time from the beginning of an event to now, we don’t use the present continuous with ‘for’. This is one of the main mistakes that English learners make when using ‘for’ in business introductions.

✓I have been managing the team for 2 months.

Present perfect continuous with ‘for’ to say how long something has been happening so far

✗I am managing the team for 2 months.

The classic mistake: we don’t use the present continuous with ‘for’ to talk about the time from the beginning until now

‘Be’ and ‘know’: no continuous form

‘Be’ and ‘know’ are two key verbs where we don’t use continuous forms. With ‘for’ and ‘since’, we use the present perfect simple – and the same mistake with the present tense still applies.

‘Be’: ✓I have been CFO for 3 years. ✗I am CFO for 3 years.

‘Know’: ✓I have known him for 10 years. ✗I know him for 10 years.

The three forms you need for business introductions

With ‘for’ and ‘since’, these three forms cover almost everything you will say when you introduce yourself.

I have been -ing…

I’ve been leading the sales team since January.

For most activities: working, managing, leading.

I have been at…

I’ve been at the company for 6 years.

With ‘be’: your company, your role, a city.

I have known…

I’ve known Maria since our first meeting.

With ‘know’: people you work with.

Mixing tenses in a business introduction

In a real introduction, the present simple and the present perfect continuous work together.

What do you do, John?

Present simple to ask about a general, long-term situation

I manage the operations department at X company.

Present simple to talk about a general, long-term situation

I’ve been leading the team for quite a while, about 3 years.

Present perfect continuous with ‘for’ to say how long something has been happening so far

I’m their head of operations for Central Europe.

Present simple to talk about a general, long-term situation

Still there, or finished? ‘For’ and ‘how long’

If a continuing event happened in the past and it is now finished, we can use the past simple with ‘for’ and ‘how long’.

Past simpleYou are no longer working there

How long did you work at your previous company?

I worked at X company for 3 years.

Present perfect continuousYou are still working there

How long have you been working at the company?

I have been working at X company for 3 years.

On a business trip: so far, or in total?

We can also use the present continuous with ‘for’ and ‘how long’ to talk about the total length of time of something. This is often used when talking about how long you are staying somewhere on a business trip.

Present perfect continuousThe time so far

How long have you been staying in the city?

We have been staying here for 3 days.

3 days is the time that you have been staying there so far (you will probably stay for more days)

Present continuousThe total length of time

How long are you staying in the city?

We are staying here for 3 days.

3 days is the total length of time of your stay

The same with ‘be’

We don’t use continuous forms with ‘be’. So for the time so far we use the present perfect, and for the total length of time we use the present simple.

Present perfectwith the verb ‘to be’

How long have you been in the city?

We have been here for 3 days.

3 days is the time that you have been there so far (you will probably be there for more days)

Present simplewith the verb ‘to be’

How long are you in the city?

We are here for 3 days.

3 days is the total length of time of your stay

Practise this lesson

Test yourself on for and since with sentences from real meetings, emails and updates.

Teachers: use these diagrams

You are welcome to use these diagrams in your lessons and materials. Please credit Fluency Space with a link to this page.

Diagram: Fluency Space – fluencyspace.com/grammar/verb-tenses/for-since-business-introductions/

Correct on paper is not the same as natural in the boardroom

One-to-one Business English coaching for C1/C2 executives and founders.

See the CEO Package

© Copyright Fluency Space.  All Rights Reserved

Page Created with OptimizePress