Foundation grammar · Unit 19 · A2

for, since, ago

Present perfect

Use for with a period of time and since with the start of a period, usually with the present perfect. Use ago, with the past simple, for a time before now.

Go to the exercises

A for and since

Use for and since to say how long.

Kerry is in Cornwall. She has been there for three days. She has been there since Monday.

Use for + a period of time (three days, two years etc.).

Use since + the start of the period (Monday, 9 o'clock etc.).

for since
three days Monday
an hour 9 o'clock
a week 14 May
a month Christmas
five years 2016
ten minutes lunchtime
six months I was a child
a long time we moved here
  • Ruth has been in Australia for six months. (not since six months)
  • We've been sitting in this queue for an hour. (not since an hour)
  • I've lived in Leeds for a long time.
  • Ruth has been in Australia since March. (= from March until now)
  • We've been sitting in this queue since half past ten. (= from half past ten until now)
  • I've lived in Leeds since I was eight.

B ago

ago = before now.

Use ago with the past (started, did, had, was etc.), not with the present perfect.

Compare ago and for:

question answer
When did Kerry arrive in Cornwall? She arrived three days ago.
How long has she been in Cornwall? She has been there for three days.
  • Nathan started his new job a month ago. (= a month before now)
  • "When did Jade leave?" "Five minutes ago." (= five minutes before now)
  • I had a shower an hour ago.
  • Two hundred years ago, there were no trains in Britain.

Exercises

19.1 Write for or since.

forsince

  1. Kerry has been in Cornwall since Tuesday.

    Kerry has been in Cornwall since Tuesday.

  2. Kerry has been in Cornwall for two days.

    Kerry has been in Cornwall for two days.

  3. My uncle has worked at the factory 25 years.

  4. Nisha is at the gym. She has been there six o'clock.

  5. Scotland has had its own parliament 1999.

  6. The train is late. We've been standing here half an hour.

  7. Nobody swims in that old pool. It has been closed years.

  8. Callum has been off work a few weeks. He has been in bed his birthday.

19.2 Answer these questions about yourself. Use ago.

  1. When did you last have a cup of tea?

    Example answer: Two hours ago.

  2. When was the last time you were at the dentist?

  3. When did you last go swimming?

  4. When was the last time you were on a train?

  5. When did you last have a holiday?

19.3 Complete the sentences. Use the words in brackets with for or ago.

  1. Kerry arrived in Cornwall two days ago. (two days)

    Kerry arrived in Cornwall two days ago.

  2. Kerry has been in Cornwall for two days. (two days)

    Kerry has been in Cornwall for two days.

  3. Pete and Sue have been married . (25 years)

  4. Pete and Sue got married . (25 years)

  5. The match started . (twenty minutes)

  6. I had a shower . (an hour)

  7. Hamza has been learning Spanish . (a year)

  8. Have you lived here ? (a long time)

  9. I bought this coat . (a few weeks)

19.4 Complete the sentences with for or since. Begin with the words given.

  1. Asha is in Glasgow now. She arrived there four days ago. (She has ...)

    She has been there for four days.

    She has been there for four days.

  2. Ryan is here. He arrived here on Sunday. (He has ...)

  3. It's snowing. It started two hours ago. (It's been ...)

  4. I know Paul. I first met him ten years ago. (I've ...)

  5. I have a bike. I bought it in 2018. (I've ...)

  6. They are engaged. They got engaged three months ago. (They've ...)

  7. Jo is studying law at university. She started two years ago. (She has ...)

  8. Martin plays the drums. He started when he was twelve. (Martin has ...)

19.5 Write sentences about yourself. Begin with the words in brackets.

  1. (I've lived ...)

  2. (I've been ...)

  3. (I've been learning ...)

  4. (I've known ...)

  5. (I've had ...)

See also