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Unit 19 · Present perfect

for since ago

Study

A

We use for and since to say how long:

›

Helen is in Ireland. She has been there for three days, since Monday.

We use for + a period of time (three days / two years etc.):

for
three days ten minutes
an hour two hours
a week four weeks
a month six months
five years a long time
›

Richard has been in Canada for six months. (not since six months)

›

We've been waiting for two hours. (not since two hours)

›

I've lived in London for a long time.

We use since + the start of the period (Monday / 9 o'clock etc.):

since
Monday Wednesday
9 o'clock 12.30
24 July Christmas
January I was ten years old
1985 we arrived
›

Richard has been in Canada since January. (= from January to now)

›

We've been waiting since 9 o'clock. (= from 9 o'clock to now)

›

I've lived in London since I was ten years old.

B

ago

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 Helen 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.

Exercises (5)

0/5 exercises checked
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19.1

Write for or since.

  1. 1
    Helen has been in Ireland Monday.example
  2. 2
    Helen has been in Ireland three days.example
  3. 3
    My aunt has lived in Australia 15 years.
  4. 4
    Tina is in her office. She has been there 7 o'clock.
  5. 5
    India has been an independent country 1947.
  6. 6
    The bus is late. We've been waiting 20 minutes.
  7. 7
    Nobody lives in those houses. They have been empty many years.
  8. 8
    Michael has been ill a long time. He has been in hospital October.
19.2

Answer these questions. Use ago.

  1. 1
    When was your last meal? example
  2. 2
    When was the last time you were ill?
  3. 3
    When did you last go to the cinema?
  4. 4
    When was the last time you were in a car?
  5. 5
    When was the last time you went on holiday?
19.3

Complete the sentences. Use for or ago with these words.

  1. 1
    Helen arrived in Ireland (three days)example
  2. 2
    Helen has been in Ireland (three days)example
  3. 3
    Lynn and Mark have been married (20 years)
  4. 4
    Lynn and Mark got married (20 years)
  5. 5
    Dan arrived (an hour)
  6. 6
    I bought these shoes (a few days)
  7. 7
    Silvia has been learning English (six months)
  8. 8
    Have you known Lisa ? (a long time)
19.4

Complete the sentences with for or since.

  1. 1
    (Helen is in Ireland – she arrived there three days ago)
    Helen has been in Ireland .example
  2. 2
    (Jack is here – he arrived on Tuesday)
    Jack has been here .
  3. 3
    (It's raining – it started an hour ago)
    It's been raining .
  4. 4
    (I know Sue – I first met her in 2008)
    I've known Sue .
  5. 5
    (Claire and Matt are married – they got married six months ago)
    Claire and Matt have been married .
  6. 6
    (Laura is studying medicine at university – she started three years ago)
    Laura has been studying medicine (at university) .
  7. 7
    (David plays the piano – he started when he was seven years old)
    David has played / David has been playing the piano .
19.5

Write sentences about yourself. Begin your sentences with: I've lived ... I've been ... I've been learning ... I've known ... I've had ...

  1. 1
    I've lived in this town for three years. example
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5