Essential Grammar in Use(Third Edition)--Present perfect Unit19

for        since         ago

---

A 

for and since

We use for and since to say how long:

• Jane is in Ireland. She has been there for three days./ since Monday.

We use for + a period of time(three days/ two years etc.)	We use since + the start of the period(Monday/ 9 o'clock  etc.)
for three days an hour a week a month five years ten minutes two hours four weeks six months a long time	since Monday 9 o'clock 24 July January 1985 Wednesday 12.30 Christmas I was ten years old we arrived
Richard has been in Canada for six months. (not since six months) We've been waiting for two hours. (not since two hours) I've lived in London for a long time.	Richard has been in Canada since January. (= from January to now) We've been waiting since 9 o'clock. (= from 9 o'clock to now) I've lived in London since I was ten years old.

 

B

ago

ago  = before now:

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

We use ago with the past (started/ did/ had/ was etc.).

Compare ago and for:

• When did Jane arrive in Ireland?    She arrived in Ireland three days ago.
• How long has she been in Ireland?     She has been in Ireland for three days.