You will be able to:

Talk about past experiences with FOR and SINCE

GUIDE 2
MY EXPERIENCES AND LEARNINGS IN LIFE
STARTING OFF

Look at the photos. Answer the following questions:

 What are they doing?
They’re jumping and skateboarding.
 Have you ever done anything like this?
No, I haven’t.
 How long have you done them?
I have never done them.

READING (Jumping /skateboarding)

Read the text. What is Logan’s hobby called?

Have you ever wanted to be able to climb over three-meter walls? How about jumping
from one building to another? My name is Logan Smith, I’m 13 years old, and I can do
all those things because my hobby is Parkour.
In Parkour, or free-running, you must get from one place to another as quickly as you
can. If There is something in your way, you go over it. Under it or
Around it. It’s great fun. But it can be dangerous, so if you want to learn, you’ll have to
find a good teacher. The first thing you learn is how to fall well. I began learning
Parkour three years ago. I fell over a lot first, but I learned fast, and I have improved
since then. I haven’t fallen for about three months.
I’ve lived in this town since I was two years old. It’s a bit boring, because there aren’t
many places children can go to play. But that changed when I started learning Parkour.
Now the whole town is my playground.

Now, after reading the text you should:

1. Underline all the sentences which contain FOR and SINCE. Say when we use them.
SINCE- FOR- AGO

Since and for are both used to say how long something has been happening, but while SINCE is followed by a
precise time or a date, FOR is followed by a length of time:

Example:
A. She has lived here since 2011.
B. She has lived here for 3 years.

It is also common to follow since with a phrase that describes a specific time:

Example:
A. I’ve been playing the piano since I was five.
B. It’s the hottest summer since records began.
If you want to ask someone questions about the length of time something has existed or been happening, the
most common way is to use How long …?
The word AGO is used to say how long before the present something happened. It always comes at the end of
the sentence
Example:
A. She called me about an hour ago.
B. Dinosaurs lived millions of years ago.
PRACTICE

1. We use present perfect + for to refer a length of time.

2. We use present perfect + since to refer a(n) precise time or a date.

Complete the gaps with FOR, SINCE or AGO.

1. I have been studying English for three years.

2. We have been waiting for delivery since last Tuesday.
3. They arrived here ten days ago.
4. I met him two years ago.
5. I have been trying to get through on the phone for the past hour.
6. The machine broke down an hour ago.
7. I have been driving since 1974.
8. The new art gallery has been open since October.
9. We had to buy a new washing machine a couple of days ago.
10. That politician has been talking for six hours.
11. I haven’t had a cigarette since I gave up on my birthday last year.
12. I have been waiting for only a few minutes.
13. He has been eating in that expensive restaurant ever since he got his new job.
14. I left the firm two years ago.
15. He has been working here since the beginning of the month.

WRITING

Read the email below.

Dear (student’s name),

I want to tell you that traveling is a wonderful experience. I have gone to

Europe twice this year. In my first trip in June, I have visited Belgium and The
Netherlands. This trip has been for one and a half week. I have been able to
do a Cultural and Delicatessen tour.
I have learned that Belgians have 300 types of beer. They love drinking it with
chips and mayonnaise. And, in the Netherlands, I have learned that The
Dutch are fond of herring, which they call ‘Hollandse Nieuwe’ or 'New Dutch
herring'. They eat this raw fish on a bun or as a snack with some chopped onions and pickles. They enjoy
tasting it with red wine. What about you?

Anita.

Reply Anita’s email talking about a travel experience too. Consider the following questions:

1. How has it been that experience?

2. What kind of trip has it been?
3. How many countries or cities have you visited?
4. How long have you stayed in the countries or cities?
5. What places have you visited?
6. What activities have you been able to do?
7. What have you learned there? Mention two things.

DEVELOPMENT

Dear Anita,

The trip that you made to Europe was great, I’m a little jealous! I want to tell you that I have a
travel experience too. You know, I’m from Colombia and I love traveling to around my country.
For example, I have gone to Quindío three times (Quindío is one of the thirty-two departments
that make up the Republic of Colombia). In my first trip last year in January, I have visited
Armenia which is the capital of the department of Quindío. This trip has been for two weeks,
where I have been able to do a cultural and cosmopolitan tour around the city. I have learned that
“Quindianos”, along with the “Antioqueños”, are the kindest and most generous people in
Colombia. But people didn’t be the only thing I loved about the trip. I also have learned that
coffee is the most important drink for “Quindianos” because they drink coffee almost five or six
times per day. Quindío is one of my favorites departments I have visited to, and I hope that I’ll
have the opportunity to visit it again.

Write soon,

William