we haven't seen him for/in two years.

[sitifan]

We are so happy because we haven't seen him ____ two years.
(A) in
(B) for
(C) since
(D) about
Source: A practice exam provided by a publishing company in Taiwan.

The answer to the above question is option B. Is option A also acceptable to native speakers?

 

[BobK]

Option B is more common in British English (at least it is in the parts where I have lived), but A is often used. I suspect it was originally an American English usage, but it's now fairly general. A lot of teachers may decry it, but I quite like it (and have used it occasionally in informal contexts).

 

[sitifan]

Optioon B is more common in British English (at least it is in the parts where I have lived), but A is often used. I susdpect it was originally an A,merican English usage, but it's now fairly general.

Option B is more common in British English (at least it is in the parts where I have lived), but A is often used. I suspect it was originally an American English usage, but it's now fairly general.

 

[jutfrank]

Oh, dear. Another failed question. Yes, the answer is B but whoever wrote the question completely missed the fact that 'in' will also produce a grammatical, natural, and practically synonymous sentence. It's a terrible error.

 

[SoothingDave]

Both A and B work for American English. A seems more natural.

 

[dunchee]

seem

seen

I really thought it was "seen" when I first read it. My eyesight's getting worse ...