“ago” “since” “for” | Time References in English
“ago” “since” “for” | Time References in English
English Grammar Lesson
Introduction
It can be confusing to know which words to use when referring to time.
In English, the words:
since
ago
for
are all used to refer to time, but in different ways.
Since
continuously from a point in time.
Form
“since” + [time period]
Examples
“It has been warm outside since noon.”
• The warmth started around 12:00pm/noon and continues to now.
“I haven’t seen you since 1999.”
• Not seeing you started in 1999 and continued until now.
Ago
gone; past (adverb).
Form
[time period] + ago
Examples
“I saw you 10 years ago!”
“They moved away three years ago.”
“The party ended 30 minutes ago.”
“Two hours ago, you didn’t even want to talk to me!”
For
over a span of time (preposition)
Form
“for” + [time period/expression]
Examples
“I haven’t seen her for more than 20 years!”
“He’s been teaching English for the past decade.”
“For the past five weeks, I’ve been learning about my students’ dreams for their lives.”
“We’ll visit for a week or two.”
Examples | Since • ago • for
“Since 2001, airplane security has become more strict.”
“Airplane security became more strict twelve years ago.”
“Airplane security has been more strict for the past ten years.”
•
“I’ve had my dog since 2012.”
“I adopted my dog a year and a half ago.”
“I’ve had dogs throughout my life, but I’ve had Chloe for a year and a half.”
•
“Dozens of women have been arrested for protesting since Friday night.”
“Ninety years ago today, women received the right to vote.”
“Women have been seeking equality for ages.” (“ages” = an expression meaning “a really long time”)
Additional English pronunciation lessons are available for purchase, and you can support Elemental English by shopping in our store.
ElementalEnglish.com is your resource for free English language and pronunciation lessons, 無料オンライン英語教材, 免费在线英文课程, 免費在線英文課程, मुफ़्त ऑनलाइन अंग्रेज़ी, آنلائن مفت میں انگریزی سیکھئے, Kostenloser Englisch-Unterricht Online, Język angielski online, Học tiếng anh miễn phí, Libreng Pag-aaral ng Wikang Ingles sa Internet, Libreng Pag-aaral ng Wikang Ingles Online, دروس في اللغة الانجليزية على الانترنت مجانا, American English pronunciation, アメリカ英語の発音, 纯正美语发音, 純正美語發音, अमरीकी अंग्रेज़ी, امریکی انگریزی کا تلفّظ سیکھئے, Amerikanisches Englisch Aussprache, wymowa język angielski, Học tiếng anh miễn phí, Wastong Pagbigkas ng American English sa Internet, astong Pagbigkas ng, تعلم اللهجة الامريكية على الانترنت, American English Online
