Unit 18. for since ago
(предлоги времени)

See Unit 17 How long have you … (Present Perfect 3)

for and since
We use for and since to say how long:

for

four days
an hour
a week
a month
five years

ten minutes
two hours
three weeks
six months
a long time

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

since

Monday
9 o'clock
24 July
December
1985

Wednesday
12.30
10 October
Christmas
I got up

Compare:
- Barry has been in Canada since January. (= from January to now)
- Barry has been in Canada for six months. (not since six months)
- I've known her since 1980. (= from 1980 to now)
- I've known her for a long time. (not since a long time)

See Unit 92 from … to until since for

ago = before now:
- Susan started her new job two weeks ago. (= two weeks before now)
- "When did Tom go out?" "Ten minutes ago." (= ten minutes before now)
- I had dinner an hour ago. (= an hour before now)
- Life was very different a hundred years ago.

We use ago with the Past Simple (did/ had/ started etc.)

Compare ago and for:
- When did she arrive in London?
- She arrived in London four days ago.
- How long has she been in London?
- She has been in London for four days.

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Unit 18. for since ago (предлоги времени)

Unit 18. for since ago
(предлоги времени)