From...to, until, since, for

These expressions are used to talk about time. They help us say when something starts and ends, how long it lasts, or when it began.

• from...to — indicates a clear start and end (a time range)
• until — means 'up to' a point in time (end point)
• since — shows the starting point of an action or state that continues to now
• for — expresses a duration (how long)

Remember the primary difference between these expressions:

• Use since + specific start time (a date, year, or event) when the action continues to now.
• Use for + period of time (hours, days, months, years) to express duration.
• Use from ... to to show the start and end points of an event or period.
• Use until to indicate the end point (up to that time).

Check whether you need a starting point (since), a duration (for), or a range (from...to / until).

Avoid these frequent errors when using these time expressions:

• Confusing since (start point) with for (duration): 'since two weeks' is incorrect — use 'for two weeks' or 'since Monday'.
• Using from without an end: say 'from X to Y' when you give both start and end; 'from X' alone is incomplete unless context provides the end.
• Replacing until with by: they are different — 'until Friday' means up to Friday; 'by Friday' means no later than Friday.
• Using past simple with since for actions that continue to now — use present perfect + since (e.g., 'has worked since 2010').
• Using for with a specific start point (use since) or with precise dates instead of durations.

If the action continues to now, think 'since' (start) or 'for' (duration).