These expressions answer different questions about time.

The idea

Use for with a duration, since with a starting point, and a duration followed by ago for a past point. An unfinished period often takes the present perfect.

Examples

  • I have lived here for three years.
  • The shop has been open since Monday.
  • We met two weeks ago.
  • She waited for an hour.
  • They have known each other since childhood.
  • The rain stopped ten minutes ago.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic English voice on your device. Quality and availability vary; it does not assess pronunciation.

Watch out

Do not use ago with the present perfect to locate a finished event; use the past simple.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the correct word: I have worked here ___ five months. (for / since / ago)

    Show answer or example answer

    for

    for: five months is a duration.

  2. Choose the correct word: The café has been closed ___ Tuesday. (for / since / ago)

    Show answer or example answer

    since

    since: Tuesday is the starting point.

  3. Choose the correct word: The train left an hour ___. (for / since / ago)

    Show answer or example answer

    ago

    ago: an hour before now locates the departure.

Use it today

Describe how long you have lived somewhere and when you last moved.