Ampersand Lab

Foundation grammar · Lesson 19 · A2

for, since, ago

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.

Start the lesson

13Steps · about 25 minutes

In this lesson

for and sinceA6 screens of questions
agoB3 screens of questions

Point A of 2

for and since

for and since both answer the question how long?

Omar is in Belfast. He has been there for four days. He has been there since Tuesday.

for is followed by a length of time: four days, two years, ten minutes.

since is followed by the point where the time began: Tuesday, 9 o'clock, 2016.

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.

Point A · Exercise 19.1 · part 1 of 2

Write for or since.

Use these

forsince

  1. Example

    Kerry has been in Cornwall since Tuesday.

    AnswerKerry has been in Cornwall since Tuesday.

  2. Example

    Kerry has been in Cornwall for two days.

    AnswerKerry 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.

Point A · Exercise 19.1 · part 2 of 2

Write for or since.

Use these

forsince

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

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

Point A · Exercise 19.4 · part 1 of 2

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

  1. Example

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

    She has been there for four days.

    AnswerShe 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 ...)

Point A · Exercise 19.4 · part 2 of 2

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

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

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

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

Point A · Exercise 19.5 · part 1 of 2

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 ...)

Point A · Exercise 19.5 · part 2 of 2

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

  1. (I've had ...)

Point B of 2

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.

Point B · Exercise 19.2

Answer these questions about yourself. Use ago.

  1. Example

    When did you last have a cup of tea?

    Two hours ago.

    Example answerTwo hours ago.

  2. When did you last have your hair cut?

  3. When did you last go swimming?

  4. When did you last go on a plane?

  5. When did you last have a holiday?

Point B · Exercise 19.3 · part 1 of 2

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

  1. Example

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

    AnswerKerry arrived in Cornwall two days ago.

  2. Example

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

    AnswerKerry 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)

Point B · Exercise 19.3 · part 2 of 2

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

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

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

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

Lesson 19 · Result

How you did

Next lesson: I have done (present perfect) and I did (past)Back to the course

–Right

Each point

A. for and since–Not checkedB. ago–Not checked