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?
 Have you ever done anything like this?
 How long have you 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. Taken From https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2015/12/30/since-for-and-ago-talking-about-periods-of-time/#:~:text=They%20are%20both%20used%20to,waiting%20since%2010%20o'clock.
PRACTICE
1. We use present perfect + for to refer a _________________________ .
2. We use present perfect + since to refer a(n) ._________________________

Complete the gaps with FOR, SINCE or AGO.

1. I have been studying English ________ three years.

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

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.