We use for and since to say how long.

0 Rache I rs .1 n Braz1 1. She h as been there

. .
{ .
for three days.
smce M onday.

We use for + a period of time We use since + the start of the period
(three days I two years, etc.): (Monday I 9:00, etc.):

start of the
period
for three days
Monday since Monday
Monday I Tuesday I Wednesday

past now past now

for since

three days 10 minutes Monday Wednesday

an hour two hours 9:00 12:30
a week four weeks July 4th my birthday
a month six months January I was 10 years old
five ye ars a long time 2000 we arrived

0 David has been in Canada for six 0 David has been in Canada since
months. (not s i nce six months) January. (=from January to now)

0 We've been waiting for two hours. 0 We've been waiting since 9:00.
(not since two hours) ( = from 9:00 to now)

0 I've lived in Chicago for a long time. 0 I've lived in Chicago since I was 10
years old.

ago

ago =before now:

0 Anna started her new job three weeks ago. (=three weeks before now)
0 "When did Tom leave?" "Ten minutes ago." (=ten minutes before now)
0 I had dinner an hour ago.
0 Life was very d iffe rent a hundred years ago.
We use ago with the past (started/did/had/was, etc).

Compare ago and for:

0 When did Rachel arrive in Brazil?
She arrived in Brazil three days ago.

0 How long has she been in Brazil?

She has been in Brazil for three days.

( present perfect+ for/since� Unit 17 from/until/since/for� Unit 102 for and during �Unit 103
)
Exercises Unit
18
_.._ Write for or since.

1 Rachel has been in Brazil ... .�Jni;;e. ... Monday.

2 Rachel has been in Brazil fqr .. three days.
3 My aunt has lived in Australia . . .. ..... .. 15 years.
4 Jennifer is in her office. She has been there ... ........ .. ............ 7:00.
5 Mexico has been an independent country . .. ..... . . . .. .. .... .... .... .. . .... ... .. .. . . 1821.
6 The bus is late. We've been waiting . . . .. . ...... ............ ... . . . ...... ...... ... . . . 20 minutes.
. ...

7 Nobody lives in those houses. They have been empty ... ... ........ ... .................. .. ... many years.
8 Michael has been sick ... ..... ...... . . .. .... .... a long time. He has been in the hospital ..... ... ..... ............. October.

.ail� Answer these questions. Use ago.

1 When was the last rime you are? .. Th � � hO. r.?. �g9 .
. . . !-! . .. .. . .... .... . .. , .. .. .............. ···- ... . . . ...... . .... . .
2 When was the last time you were sick?
3 When was the last time you went to the movies?
4 When was the last time you were in a car?
5 When was the last time you went on vacation?

.ail,.. Complete the sentences. Use for or ago with these wor '"" d=s_. -----------
--..
1 Rachel arrived in Brazil ...�h�.�.4�Y? �g.Q :............. . ...................... ....... .... ............. . . ......... (three days) .. .. ......... .............

2 Rachel has been in Brazil forthr�e..d.ays. ........... .... .. ....... ................. ... ... · ··-···· ... .. .. .................. .. (three days)
3 Stephanie and Robert have been married ............ ... ........ ...... .. ..... .. . . _ . .. . .. ..... ..... (20 years)
4 Stephanie and Robert got married . .... . . . . . . . . ............. . . ·· ··· ··-· .. . . _ .. .. ... ... . .. .. ........... (20 years)
5 Dan arrived......... . . .. ......................... . ................................. .. .. .. ... .......... . .. .... ............ . . . ......... .. . .......... . . .... (an hour)
6 I bought these sboes .............. .................................. .......................... .. .. ... ..... ........... . .. .. .... .... . . . .. ........ ... . (a few days)
7 Ana has been studying English .. ............... ............. .. .. ............................ ... .. .. .. (six months)
8 Have you known Allison . .. .. . ...... .................... ..... . .......... . . .. ... ................ . ....... ... . . .. . . 1 (a long time)

CD Complete the sentences with for or since.

1 (Rachel is in Brazil - she arrived there three days ago)

Rache..1.h.a.�.b.��n 1.n.. �.'E.?'.i! f9.r. �h� �-�Y.�:. ....... ............ .. ..
.. . . .

2 (Jack is here - he arrived on Tuesday)

Jack has .......... .. ... .. ..... . ..... ........... . . ......... .......... .. .. . ............ ··- . .. ... .. ...... . ...

3 (It's raining - it started an hour ago)

It's been . .. . . .
. . . ......... ... . .
.... . . .
.. . . .. _ . ... . . ..... .. .... .. .. ... . ... ... ... ...... . . . ..... ..... . .. . ... ... .. . .......... . ... .. .. . .. ...... . . . ... ..... ...... . . ...

4 (I know Sue - I met her in 2008)

I've ........................................ ................... ...... ................ ........ ......... ............ .. .

5. (Emily and Matthew are married - they got married six months ago)
Emily and Matthew have .. .. . ... ... ... .. .. ... . .. . ..
....... . . . .. .... ......... . .. ....... ... . ... . . .. ... .. . .
... . .. ... . ............. ....... . . . . . . . ..
.... ... ..... ... .... .

6 (Liz is studying medicine - she started three years ago)

Liz has .............. . . ... . .... .. . .. .... . .......... ..... . .
. ... ..... ... .. . ..
. ... .
......... ........... . . ...... .... .
. ... .... . ....... .. . .......... ... ............. . ·-

7 (David plays the piano - he started when he was seven years old)
David has . . . . .. .. . . .. . . ... .. .... . . . .. .
..... ... .. .. . .
. ... . . .. . .
..... . ..... . .... .. ......... ... . .... . ... . .. ..... .. ........... . .. .
..... ........... .... ... . ... ....... .. .

I've lived ... I've been ... I've been studying ... I've known ... I've had ...

1 .... .J.v.�..ll.Y.e.f!..ir :t..h..!?. �.w.n for. thrn�_yeaf"?.,. .........

.. .. . . . . . ..... ... . ..... ...... .. . ..
.. ... ..
.... . ..... ............ . . .
... ..... ....... .............. . . . . ... . .
.. .... ...... .

2 ... .
, ..... ......... .. . . . .. . . .... . .

3
4 ............................................... ................... ..... ..... ............... . .

�Additional exercises 16-18 (pages 244-245) 37