Find the part of the sentence that contains an error:
He has been living (1) / on this street (2) / since five years. (3) / with his family(4).
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
Correct Answer
since five years. (3)
Explanation
The question tests the correct usage of the prepositions "since" and "for" in a perfect continuous tense sentence.
The rule for time expressions dictates that "for" must be used to denote a period of time (a duration, such as hours, days, or years). On the other hand, "since" is exclusively used to denote a specific point of time in the past (such as a specific year, day, or clock time when the action started).
Because "five years" represents a duration or total period of time, the preposition "since" is grammatically incorrect here. The sentence should correctly read: "He has been living on this street for five years with his family." Therefore, part 3 contains the error, making Option 3 the correct choice.
The other parts are grammatically sound:
"He has been living" correctly uses the Present Perfect Continuous tense (has + been + V-ing) to describe an action that started in the past and is still ongoing.
"on this street" and "with his family" use correct prepositional phrasing.
Key Points
This is a staple question pattern across competitive exams. To guarantee a quick, correct answer under exam pressure, remember this contrast:
Use FOR with numbers/lengths of time: for 2 hours, for 6 months, for 5 years.
Use SINCE with names of days/dates/starting moments: since Monday, since 2012, since 8 AM, since childhood.