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Anonymous Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

'in' or 'for'

Hi, I've this problem with prepositions used in present perfect. When do we use 'in' and 'for'? For example I can say "I haven't seen her in a while" but I can also say "I haven't seen her for weeks". Or maybe I'm wrong? What's the rule for these prepositions? Thanks
  

Top answer

The prepositions don't depend on the case, they depend on the time. I'm afraid there aren't rules, because the formatin is rather idiomatic. You have to learn them each in their own context.

— BarbaraPA

  • The prepositions don't depend on the case, they depend on the time.
  • I'm afraid there aren't rules, because the formatin is rather idiomatic.
  • You have to learn them each in their own context.
  • I was born in 1966.
  • I was born in May.
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4 Answers
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The prepositions don't depend on the case, they depend on the time.

I'm afraid there aren't rules, because the formatin is rather idiomatic. You have to learn them each in their own context.

I was born in 1966. I was born in May. I was born on the 23rd. I was born at 11:41 at night: In for year and month, on for date, at for time... you can see it's variable.

"For weeks"
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I'm afraid sympathy is about all I have to offer. The problem isn't restricted to the present perfect. I've spent a lifetime learning which prepositions go with which other words on a case by case basis. My brief experience on this site has taught me how difficult it is to generalize about prepositions.

For example, you can reverse the prepositions in your two examples with no change i
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Well, I didn't ask about all prepositions. I just wanted to know what was the difference between 'in' and 'for' using present perfect. You gave me really easy examples on using 'at' (11:41) and 'in' (1966) but that was basics. I still don't know if I can use 'in' and 'for' alternatively. I mean, I heard a phrase like "I haven't seen her in years". I guess I could say "I haven't seen her fo
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I heard a phrase like "I haven't seen her in years". I guess I could say "I haven't seen her for years" with no change in meaning at all. Am I right?
Yes, that's right.

It seems to me that for is the general purpose preposition for this situation.
In contrast in seems to be associated with non-assertive contexts, and (slightly) preferred th
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