SchoolTube Community
Learning English can be an exciting journey, but some parts of grammar can feel like tricky terrain. Don't worry, we're here to guide you! Today, we're tackling three small but mighty words that often trip up English learners: 'for,' 'since,' and 'ago.' Mastering these words will give you the confidence to talk about time with ease.
'For': Your Multi-Purpose Preposition
The word 'for' is like a Swiss Army knife in English – it has multiple uses! Let's break down the three most common ways you'll see it used:
1. Expressing Purpose:
Think of 'for' as your go-to word when you want to explain the reason behind something.
- Structure: for + noun phrase
- Examples:
- I bought these flowers for my mom.
- This book is for learning Spanish.
- We need more chairs for the meeting.
2. Indicating Duration (Length of Time):
When you want to talk about how long something lasts, 'for' is your friend.
- Structure: for + length of time
- Examples:
- I've been studying English for three years.
- The movie lasted for two and a half hours.
- We waited for ages at the bus stop!
3. Talking About Value:
Ever notice how 'for' pops up when you're shopping? That's because it's used to show the price or value of something.
- Structure: for + price/value
- Examples:
- You can get two pizzas for $20!
- I bought this dress for a steal at the sale.
- Tickets are on sale for a limited time.
'Since': Pinpointing Your Starting Point
'Since' is all about identifying when something began. It's your time-traveling companion in English!
1. Marking the Beginning of an Action or State:
Use 'since' to talk about when a continuous action or state started.
- Structure: since + point in time (often used with the present perfect tense)
- Examples:
- I've been living in London since 2018.
- She's been feeling sick since yesterday evening.
- They've been friends since childhood.
2. Referring to a Past Time:
'Since' can also connect the present to a specific moment in the past.
- Structure: since + past event/time
- Examples:
- We met at summer camp, and we've been close friends since then.
- I haven't seen him since the party last month.
- The company has grown significantly since its early days.
3. Substituting for 'Because':
In some cases, 'since' can be used interchangeably with 'because' to provide a reason.
- Structure: since + reason
- Examples:
- Since it's raining, we should stay inside. (Or: Because it's raining...)
- I'm going to bed early since I have to wake up early tomorrow. (Or: ...because I have to...)
'Ago': Journeying Back in Time
'Ago' is your tool for talking about things that happened in the past. It tells you how long ago something occurred.
1. Indicating a Past Point in Time:
Use 'ago' to show how far back in the past something happened.
- Structure: length of time + ago
- Examples:
- I graduated from university five years ago.
- We moved to this city two months ago.
- Dinosaurs went extinct millions of years ago.
2. Combining 'Ago' with 'Since':
You can create more complex sentences by using 'ago' and 'since' together.
- Structure: since + length of time + ago
- Examples:
- I've been working on this project since two weeks ago.
- They've been dating since six months ago.
Quick Tips to Remember:
- 'For' + length of time: Use for actions or states that continue over a period.
- 'Since' + point in time: Use for actions or states that began at a specific time and are still true.
- 'Ago' + length of time: Use for completed actions in the past.
Keep Practicing!
Learning a language takes time and practice. Don't be afraid to make mistakes – that's how you learn! The more you use 'for,' 'since,' and 'ago' in your everyday conversations and writing, the more natural they will become.
Pro Tip: Watch movies, TV shows, or listen to podcasts in English and pay attention to how these words are used. You'll be surprised how quickly you start to pick them up!
You may also like