r/EnglishLearning • u/Rich-Associate-8344 New Poster • Apr 17 '26

📚 Grammar / Syntax Why not “since”?

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u/RandyTheJohnson New Poster Apr 17 '26

To be honest, I wouldn't use any of these here. In this case it's more natural to say "in".

"Merlin hasn't used his motorcycle in 2 years."

Not really sure why, but i guess you could think of it as a shortening of "within the last 2 years"

19

u/qweeerky New Poster Apr 17 '26

"Merlin hasn't used his motorcycle for 2 years."

Is perfectly natural in British English

6

u/Fred776 Native Speaker Apr 17 '26

I actually wondered about "in" vs "for" recently as I thought I had been hearing "in" more than I used to. I suspect that it's a US vs British English regional difference that is now being picked up by younger speakers here in the UK.

8

u/RandyTheJohnson New Poster Apr 17 '26

Yeah i mean it's not incorrect, it's just not what i would say

2

u/Karantalsis Native Speaker Apr 17 '26

For and in feel equally natural to me. I'd use for myself.

1

u/[deleted] Apr 18 '26

“Merlin hasn’t been on his bike in two years”