Unit 19: for, since, ago

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GRAMMAR
EXAMPLES
EXERCISES

A. for and since

We use for and since to say how long:

Jill is in Ireland. She has been there for three days.
Jill is in Ireland. She has been there since Monday.
past
NOW

for + a period of time

three daysten minutes
a weektwo hours
a monthfour weeks
five yearssix months
a long time

since + the start of the period

MondayWednesday
9 o’clock12.30
24 JulyChristmas
JanuaryI was ten years old
1985we arrived
Richard has been in Canada for six months. (not ‘since six months’)
We’ve been waiting for two hours.
I’ve lived in London for a long time.
Richard has been in Canada since January. (= from January to now)
We’ve been waiting since 9 o’clock.
I’ve lived in London since I was ten years old.

B. ago = before now

Susan started her new job three weeks ago. (= three weeks before now)
‘When did Tom go out?’ ‘Ten minutes ago.’ (= ten minutes before now)
I had dinner an hour ago.
Life was very different a hundred years ago.
We use ago with the past (started/did/had/was etc.).

Compare ago and for:

When did Jill arrive in Ireland?
→ She arrived in Ireland three days ago.
How long has she been in Ireland?
→ She has been in Ireland for three days.

Examples

She has been there for three days.
She has been there since Monday.
We’ve been waiting for two hours.
We’ve been waiting since 9 o’clock.
I’ve lived in London for a long time.
I’ve lived in London since I was ten.
Susan started her job three weeks ago.
‘When did Tom go out?’ ‘Ten minutes ago.’
She arrived three days ago.
She has been here for three days.

Exercises 19.1 – 19.5

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19.1 Write for or since.

  1. Jill has been in Ireland since Monday.
  2. Jill has been in Ireland three days.
  3. My aunt has lived in Australia 15 years.
  4. Margaret is in her office. She has been there 7 o’clock.
  5. India has been an independent country 1947.
  6. The bus is late. We’ve been waiting 20 minutes.
  7. Nobody lives in those houses. They have been empty many years.
  8. Mike has been ill a long time. He has been in hospital October.
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19.2 Answer these questions. Use ago.

  1. When was your last meal? Three hours ago.
  2. When was the last time you were ill?
  3. When did you last go to the cinema?
  4. When was the last time you were in a car?
  5. When was the last time you went on holiday?
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19.3 Complete the sentences. Use the words in brackets (...) + for or ago.

  1. Jill arrived in Ireland three days ago. (three days)
  2. Jill has been in Ireland . (three days)
  3. Linda and Frank have been married . (20 years)
  4. Linda and Frank got married . (20 years)
  5. Dan arrived . (ten minutes)
  6. We had lunch . (an hour)
  7. Silvia has been learning English . (six months)
  8. Have you known Lisa ? (a few days)
  9. I bought these shoes . (a few days)
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19.4 Complete the sentences with for or since.

  1. Jill is in Ireland now. She arrived there three days ago. She has been there for three days.
  2. Jack is here. He arrived here on Tuesday. He has here Tuesday.
  3. It’s raining. It started an hour ago. It’s been an hour.
  4. I know Sue. I first met Sue two years ago. I’ve Sue two years.
  5. I have a camera. I bought it in 1989. I’ve it 1989.
  6. They are married. They got married six months ago. They’ve married six months.
  7. Liz is studying medicine at university. She started three years ago. She has studying medicine three years.
  8. Dave plays the piano. He started when he was seven years old. Dave has the piano he was seven years old.
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19.5 Write sentences about yourself. Begin with the words in brackets (...).

  1. (I’ve lived) (free answer)
  2. (I’ve been) (free answer)
  3. (I’ve been learning) (free answer)
  4. (I’ve known) (free answer)
  5. (I’ve had) (free answer)

Example: I’ve lived in this city for five years.

Unit 19: for, since, ago • Full Interactive Textbook