For Since Ago
For, Since, and Ago
We use for and since to say HOW LONG
We use ago as a time word to say WHEN
We use for with words referring to a period of time.
Examples: for three days,
For an hour,
For three weeks,
For ten days,
For a long time,
For a month.
I have been waiting for two hours.
He has lived in London for a long time.
We use since with words referring to the start of the period.
Examples: Since Monday,
Since 9 o’clock,
Since 24 July,
Since Christmas,
Since January,
Since 2011
Since we left,
Since he was ten years old.
She has been here since morning (from morning to now.)
John has lived in London since he was 10 years old.
I have been waiting here since ten o’clock (from ten o’clock to now.)
We also use ago – a time word with the meaning
“in the past” refers to a specific length of time.
Examples: Two minutes ago,
Five years ago.
Three days ago,
A (one) year ago.
Ten hours ago.
He left his office ten minutes ago.
I came to this town one week ago.
Compare ago, for, and since:
When did Mary arrive in London?
She arrived in London three weeks ago.
How long has Mary lived here?
She has lived here for two years.
How long has Mary been in London?
She has been in London since 2022 (from 2022 to now).
Sentences:
How long have you known him?
I have known him since 2021 (from 2021 to now).
I have known him for three years.
Where does she live?
How long has she lived there?
She lives in Paris. She has lived there since she got married.
She has lived here for five years.
When did you last go to the cinema?
I went four weeks ago.
Who plays the piano?
How long has he started playing the piano?
David plays the piano. He has started since he was seven years old.
Who is here? When did she come? How long has she been here?
Laura is here.
She came three days ago.
She has been here since Monday (from Monday to now).
Who is married?
How long have they been married?
When did they get married?
Lynn and Mark are married.
They have been married for four years.
They have been married since January 2020 (from 2020 to now).
They got married four years ago.
Prepositions “Since” and “From”
THE IMPERATIVE MOOD AND NON-FINITE FORMS OF “TO HAVE”
The Past Indefinite Tense ( The Past Simple)