[Grammar] "Since" plus present tense possible?

[Buddy42]

Dear teachers,

I'm brooding about how to express the following fact: In Germany we usually take our Abitur (A-levels) after 8 years of grammar school. That's a fact. This, however, has not always been the case. About ten years ago the regulations were changed; before that we had to spend (at least ;-)) 9 years at grammar school.

So, is it possible to say:

a) For 10 years now we take our Abitur already after 8 years of grammar school.

Or do I have to use the present perfect here:

b) For 10 years now we have taken our Abitur.....

This constructions sounds unnatural to me since the Abitur is sth. that is taken once a year and not every day, that is continuously.

Or is it safer to say:

c) It's ten years now that we take our Abitur already after......


I'm confused, please help me.

Thanks in advance!

 

[bhaisahab]

Since the rules changed ten years ago, we take our Abitur after completing eight years of grammar school.

 

[Buddy42]

This is a wonderful way of saying it, thank you! So "since" must not always be accompanied by a present perfect in the main clause!?

But are the "for"-versions (a-c) correct, too?

Sorry, but I should have chosen a different heading, such as ""for" plus present tense possible"?.

 

[Barb_D]

I think I'd say "It's been ten years since we started taking our Abitur after eight years of grammar school."

Or "We've been taking our Abitur after eight years of grammar school for ten years now."

Or "We take our Abitur after eight years of grammar school, and we've done so for ten years now."