When do we use 'during' and when 'for'?

[Eldar]

English Grammar Tests, Elementary Level

ESL/EFL Test #94 "While, during and for", question 5

Last week I was held up ......... four hours because of the traffic.

(a) while
(b) during
(c) for

English Grammar Tests, Elementary Level

ESL/EFL Test #94 "While, during and for", answer 5

Last week I was held up for four hours because of the traffic.

Correct answer: (c) for
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i chose during for this sentence. Is it right? Please explanation it for me.

Eldar

[Mister Micawber]

.
No, 'during' is incorrect; 'during' generally requires two events/activities: 'During the picnic, it rained'. As a measure of duration of time only, 'for' is used. You will occasionally see 'during' used of time when its passing is particulary stressed: 'During the whole five hours of the ride, we never stopped at a restroom'.

Here is another online explanation:

For: indicates the length of a period of time (Answers the question: HOW LONG? -- with no reference to WHERE in time that period is located). For is followed by A NUMBER OR AMOUNT OF TIME. The rest of the sentence tells the time, which can be past, present, future, or anything.

'I've been sick for three days. I'll stay for several months. I usually sleep for a long time.'

During : is followed by A NOUN referring to a period of time (NOT a number or amount of time, and NOT a clause or gerund). (Answers the question: WHEN?) The rest of the sentence tells the time, which can be past, present, future, or anything.

'I will go there during my vacation.'
'They are very busy during election years.'
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Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mr. Micawber