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"Match has been delayed/postponed for two days"."He has been jailed/punished for two years"

I need to ask whether "subject+has been+past participle+for two years" reflects the last past years as in since last two years or next two years?

Somehow i am also thinking that these sentences may reflect the complete action ( in sense of past) which had the duration of two years as in "match has already been delayed for two days"

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The match has been postponed for two days means that a decision has been taken to play it two days from now instead of today. We could also say it during those two days.

He has been jailed for two years means that he has been sentenced to two years in prison (punished is not appropriate here). We could also say it during those two years.

I hope this answers your question.

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  • thanks. I suppose i almost understood. Kindly correct me on this pls. If i say "Room has been painted for two days" it does not refer that "painting" will get done in two days time/two days from now but "Period of two days" which already happened as in past.(But otherway around for postoned and jailed )
    – Bilal Zafar
    Nov 19, 2021 at 15:08
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    What you must realise is that for has different meanings with certain verbs. Postpone for [time] means 'delay the date on which something happens'. Jail for [time] means 'sentence to that much time in prison'. If the jail sentence started in 2010, we would say "He was jailed for two years in 2010."
    – Kate Bunting
    Nov 20, 2021 at 9:17
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    "Room has been painted for two days" is not idiomatic English. Firstly, it should be 'the room'. Secondly, we would say 'The room was painted two days ago.' A better example would be 'My sister has been ill for two days'. This is another meaning of for.
    – Kate Bunting
    Nov 20, 2021 at 9:23
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    The normal meaning of "The match has been postponed for (X amount of time)" is that it should have taken place today, or very recently, but now won't happen until that amount of time has elapsed. It's unlikely anyone would interpret it as 'It was postponed two years ago and still hasn't happened'.
    – Kate Bunting
    Nov 20, 2021 at 18:56
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    We would say "He has been in jail for two years".
    – Kate Bunting
    Nov 20, 2021 at 18:57

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