G
ESC
  • Type to search across all units
← All units

Unit 104 · Prepositions

from ... to until since for

Study

A

from ... to ...

›

We lived in Japan from 2003 to 2010.

›

I work from Monday to Friday.

You can also say from ... until ...:

›

We lived in Japan from 2003 until 2010.

B

until ...

›

They're going away tomorrow. They'll be away until Friday.

›

I went to bed early, but I wasn't tired. I read a book until 3 o'clock.

›

Wait here until I come back.

You can also say till (= until):

›

Wait here till I come back.

Compare:

›

'How long will you be away?' 'Until Monday.'

›

'When are you coming back?' 'On Monday.'

C

since + a time in the past (to now)

We use since after the present perfect (have been / have done etc.):

›

Joe is in hospital. He has been in hospital since Monday. (= from Monday to now)

›

Sue and Dave have been married since 1998. (= from 1998 to now)

›

It has been raining since I arrived.

Compare:

›

We lived in Japan from 2003 to 2010. We lived in Japan until 2010.

›

Now we live in Canada. We came to Canada in 2010. We have lived in Canada since 2010. (= from 2010 until now)

We use for (not since) + a period of time (three days / ten years etc.):

›

Joe has been in hospital for three days. (not since three days)

D

for + a period of time

›

Gary stayed with us for three days.

›

I'm going away for a few weeks.

›

I'm going away for the weekend.

›

They've been married for ten years.

Exercises (2)

0/2 exercises checked
—
104.1

Read the information and complete the sentences. Use from ... to / until / since.

  1. 1
    1 (Alex / Canada / 2001 → 2009)
    Alex lived in Canada from 2001 to 2009.example
  2. 2
    2 (Alex / Canada / → 2009)
    Alex lived in Canada 2009.
  3. 3
    3 (Alex / England / 2009 →)
    Alex has lived in England 2009.
  4. 4
    4 (Karen / France / → 2011)
    Karen lived in France 2011.
  5. 5
    5 (Karen / Switzerland / 2011 →)
    Karen has lived in Switzerland 2011.
  6. 6
    6 (Clare / a restaurant / 2010 → 2012)
    Clare worked in a restaurant 2010 2012.
  7. 7
    7 (Clare / a hotel / 2012 →)
    Clare has worked in a hotel 2012.
  8. 8
    8 (Adam / a teacher / 2002 → 2008)
    Adam was a teacher 2002 2008.
  9. 9
    9 (Adam / a journalist / 2008 →)
    Adam has been a journalist 2008.
  10. 10
    Now write sentences with for.
    Alex lived in Canada for eight years.example
  11. 11
    11 (Alex / England)
    Alex has lived in England .
  12. 12
    12 (Karen / Switzerland)
    Karen has lived in Switzerland .
  13. 13
    13 (Clare / a restaurant)
    Clare worked in a restaurant two years.
  14. 14
    14 (Clare / a hotel)
    Clare has worked in a hotel .
  15. 15
    15 (Adam / a teacher)
    Adam was a teacher six years.
  16. 16
    16 (Adam / a journalist)
    Adam has been a journalist .
104.2

Write until/since/for.

  1. 1
    Sue and Dave have been married since 1998.example
  2. 2
    I was tired this morning. I stayed in bed 10 o'clock.
  3. 3
    We waited for Sue half an hour, but she didn't come.
  4. 4
    'Have you just arrived?' 'No, I've been here half past seven.'
  5. 5
    'How long did you stay at the party last night?' ' midnight.'
  6. 6
    Dan and I are good friends. We have known each other ten years.
  7. 7
    I'm tired. I'm going to lie down a few minutes.
  8. 8
    Don't open the door of the train the train stops.
  9. 9
    This is my house. I've lived here I was seven years old.
  10. 10
    Jack has gone away. He'll be away Wednesday.
  11. 11
    Next week I'm going to Paris three days.
  12. 12
    I usually finish work at 5.30, but sometimes I work six.
  13. 13
    'How long have you known Anna?' ' we were at school together.'
  14. 14
    Where have you been? I've been waiting for you twenty minutes.