5.132 'for' and 'in' with general or specific time

'For' and 'in' can be used in negative statements to say that something does not happen during a period of time. You can use them in this way with specific units of time, and with more general time references.

• He hadn't had a proper night's sleep for a month.
• I haven't seen a chart for forty years!
• The team had not heard from Stabler in a month.
• He hasn't slept in a month.
• I haven't seen him for years.
• Let's have a dinner party. We haven't had one in years.
• I haven't fired a gun in years.