[General] For the last 7 years or since the last 7 years.

[Rollercoaster1]

I had a long debate over the preposition "for" and "since" in a sentence. I am putting that sentence down, here. Kindly, tell me which one is correct.

1- I have been doing it for the last 7 years.
2- I have been doing it since the last 7 years.

My correct answer to him was: I have been doing it for the last 7 years.

 

[emsr2d2]

I had a long debate over the prepositions "for" and "since" in the sentence below. [STRIKE]I am putting that sentence down, here.[/STRIKE] Kindly (no comma here) tell me which one is correct.

1- I have been doing it for the last 7 years.
2- I have been doing it since the last 7 years.

[STRIKE]My correct answer to[/STRIKE] I told him the correct answer was (no colon here) "I have been doing it for the last 7 years."

Please note my corrections above.

You're right. "For" is the correct preposition in that sentence. "Since" would be used in "I have been doing it since 2011".

 

[Rollercoaster1]

Please note my corrections above.

You're right. "For" is the correct preposition in that sentence. "Since" would be used in "I have been doing it since 2011".

There should be "...in the sentences below".

 

[SoothingDave]

"Since" refers back to one specific point in time, not to a period in time.

 

[emsr2d2]

"Since" refers back to one specific point in time, not to a period in time.

Well, except in "Since the 1980s ...", "Since the Middle Ages", "Since time immemorial ..." etc, which could be described both as one specific point in time and as a period in time.

 

[SoothingDave]

Yes, good point. I would say that "the 1980s" are a "point" in time if you zoom out far enough.

 

[jutfrank]

Well, except in "Since the 1980s ...", "Since the Middle Ages", "Since time immemorial ..." etc, which could be described both as one specific point in time and as a period in time.

Yes, good point. I would say that "the 1980s" are a "point" in time if you zoom out far enough.

Yes, that's right. In since the 1980s, the 1980s is seen as a point in time.