Ampersand Lab

Foundation grammar · Lesson 104 · A2

from ... to, until, since, for

from ... to gives the start and end of a period. until gives the end. since gives a start point in the past, up to now, and goes with the present perfect. for gives a length of time (for three days, never since three days).

Start the lesson

18Steps · about 33 minutes

In this lesson

from ... toA1 screen of questions
untilB1 screen of questions
sinceC1 screen of questions
forD1 screen of questions
Put it together+8 screens of mixed questions

Point A of 4

from ... to

from ... to = the start and the end of a period.

You can also say from ... until.

  • We lived in Dublin from 2005 to 2012.
  • I work from Tuesday to Saturday.
  • We lived in Dublin from 2005 until 2012.

Point A · Extra practice

Put in from and to.

  1. The shop is open nine five.

  2. We lived in Hull 2010 2015.

  3. I work Monday Thursday.

Point B of 4

until

until + the end of a period: until Friday, until December, until 3 o'clock, until I come back.

till means the same as until.

until Monday answers How long? on Monday answers When?

  • My parents leave on Friday. They'll be in Spain until the end of the month.
  • I went to bed early, but I couldn't sleep. I read until two o'clock.
  • Stay here until I get back.
  • Stay here till I get back.
  • "How long will you be away?" "Until Monday."
  • "When are you coming back?" "On Monday."

Point B · Extra practice

Put in until.

  1. Wait here I come back.

  2. I stayed up midnight watching the match.

  3. The museum is closed next Tuesday.

Point C of 4

since

since + a point in the past, and the time runs up to now: since Monday, since 1998, since 2.30, since I arrived.

since belongs with the present perfect (have been, have done etc.).

Set the two side by side: we lived in Dublin until 2012 (that stretch is over); we have lived in Cork since 2012 (from 2012 up to today).

  • Gran is in hospital. She has been in hospital since Monday. (= from Monday to now)
  • Mr and Mrs Patel got married in 1998. They have been married since then. (= from 1998 to now)
  • It has been snowing since I got up.
  • We lived in Dublin from 2005 to 2012.
  • We lived in Dublin until 2012.
  • Now we live in Cork. We moved to Cork in 2012.
  • We have lived in Cork since 2012. (= from 2012 until now)

Point C · Extra practice

Put in since.

  1. I've lived here 2019.

  2. It's been raining this morning.

  3. I haven't seen Mo the wedding.

Point D of 4

for

for + a length of time: for three days, for ten years, for ten minutes, for ages.

A length of time takes for, never since: she has been in hospital for a week (not since a week).

  • Gran has been in hospital for a week. (not since a week)
  • My cousin stayed with us for a week.
  • I'm going away for a few days.
  • I'm going to Brighton for the weekend.
  • They've been married for twenty years.

Point D · Extra practice

Put in for.

  1. We've been waiting twenty minutes.

  2. She's going to Spain two weeks.

  3. They've been married thirty years.

Put it together · Exercise 104.1 · part 1 of 4

Read the information about these people. Today is 2026. Complete the sentences 1 to 9 with from ... to, until or since; then write sentences 10 to 16 with for. Sam: lives in Wales now; lived in Scotland before; moved to Wales in 2016. Nora: lives in Italy now; lived in Spain before; moved to Italy in 2018. Ian: works in a bank now; worked in a shop before; started at the bank in 2020. Lou: is a photographer now; was a waiter before; became a photographer in 2014.

  1. Example

    (Sam / Scotland / 2006 to 2016) Sam lived ...

    Sam lived in Scotland from 2006 to 2016.

    AnswerSam lived in Scotland from 2006 to 2016.

  2. Example

    (Sam / Scotland) Sam lived ...

    Sam lived in Scotland for ten years.

    AnswerSam lived in Scotland for ten years.

  3. (Sam / Scotland / up to 2016) Sam lived ...

  4. (Sam / Wales / 2016 up to now) Sam has lived ...

  5. (Nora / Spain / up to 2018) Nora lived ...

  6. (Nora / Italy / 2018 up to now) Nora has lived ...

Put it together · Exercise 104.1 · part 2 of 4

Read the information about these people. Today is 2026. Complete the sentences 1 to 9 with from ... to, until or since; then write sentences 10 to 16 with for. Sam: lives in Wales now; lived in Scotland before; moved to Wales in 2016. Nora: lives in Italy now; lived in Spain before; moved to Italy in 2018. Ian: works in a bank now; worked in a shop before; started at the bank in 2020. Lou: is a photographer now; was a waiter before; became a photographer in 2014.

  1. (Ian / a shop / 2015 to 2020) Ian worked ...

  2. (Ian / a bank / 2020 up to now) Ian has worked ...

  3. (Lou / a waiter / 2010 to 2014) Lou was ...

  4. (Lou / a photographer / 2014 up to now) Lou has been ...

Put it together · Exercise 104.1 · part 3 of 4

Read the information about these people. Today is 2026. Complete the sentences 1 to 9 with from ... to, until or since; then write sentences 10 to 16 with for. Sam: lives in Wales now; lived in Scotland before; moved to Wales in 2016. Nora: lives in Italy now; lived in Spain before; moved to Italy in 2018. Ian: works in a bank now; worked in a shop before; started at the bank in 2020. Lou: is a photographer now; was a waiter before; became a photographer in 2014.

  1. (Sam / Wales) Sam has lived ...

  2. (Nora / Italy) Nora has lived ...

  3. (Ian / a shop) Ian worked ...

  4. (Ian / a bank) Ian has worked ...

Put it together · Exercise 104.1 · part 4 of 4

Read the information about these people. Today is 2026. Complete the sentences 1 to 9 with from ... to, until or since; then write sentences 10 to 16 with for. Sam: lives in Wales now; lived in Scotland before; moved to Wales in 2016. Nora: lives in Italy now; lived in Spain before; moved to Italy in 2018. Ian: works in a bank now; worked in a shop before; started at the bank in 2020. Lou: is a photographer now; was a waiter before; became a photographer in 2014.

  1. (Lou / a waiter) Lou was ...

  2. (Lou / a photographer) Lou has been ...

Put it together · Exercise 104.2 · part 1 of 4

Put in until, since or for.

Use these

untilsincefor

  1. Example

    Mr and Mrs Patel have been married since 1998.

    AnswerMr and Mrs Patel have been married since 1998.

  2. It was my day off, so I stayed in bed eleven o'clock.

  3. We waited for the taxi forty minutes, but it never came.

  4. "Have you just got here?" "No, I've been here ten past six."

  5. "When did you leave the party?" "Not two in the morning."

Put it together · Exercise 104.2 · part 2 of 4

Put in until, since or for.

Use these

untilsincefor

  1. Mia and I are old friends. We've known each other fifteen years.

  2. I've got a headache. I'm going to lie down half an hour.

  3. Keep your seatbelt on the plane stops.

  4. This is my old school. I've known the head teacher I was eleven.

Put it together · Exercise 104.2 · part 3 of 4

Put in until, since or for.

Use these

untilsincefor

  1. Ravi has gone to a conference. He'll be away Thursday.

  2. Next month I'm going to Berlin four days.

  3. I normally finish at five, but sometimes I work seven.

  4. "How long have you known Zoe?" " we were at college together."

Put it together · Exercise 104.2 · part 4 of 4

Put in until, since or for.

Use these

untilsincefor

  1. At last! I've been standing outside the cinema forty minutes.

Lesson 104 · Result

How you did

Next lesson: before, after, during, whileBack to the course

–Right

Each point

A. from ... to–Not checkedB. until–Not checkedC. since–Not checkedD. for–Not checkedPut it together–Not checked

Practise the words

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