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PET - FOR, SINCE, UNTIL, AGO, BY, DURING

Instructions:

You are given a block of text which explains the theory of this concept.

Once you have read the theory, do the exercises given below to test how well you have understood the ideas.

 

How to do the Exercises:

 

You are given a set of words.

You are also given some sentences with input boxes, and you are required to use the words to complete the sentences correctly.

 

You can put your chosen word into the input box by first clicking on the word and then in the input box.

 

The word will appear in the input box.

 

If it is correct, it will go green, and if not, it will go red.

 

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PET - FOR, SINCE, UNTIL, AGO, BY, DURING

Theory:

FOR, SINCE and AGO
FOR and SINCE are used to define an activity that started in the past and continued to the present.
FOR gives the duration and SINCE tells when the activity started.
- I have been playing tennis FOR 2 hours.
- I have been playing tennis SINCE 8 pm. (It is 10 pm now.)

The moment when the activity started can be defined by AGO, and it normally comes at the end of the sentence.
- I started playing tennis 2 hours AGO.

SINCE and UNTIL
SINCE and UNTIL work in the same way, SINCE defines duration in the past, and UNTIL defines duration in the future.
- I have been playing since 8pm.(It is 10pm now.)
- I will be playing until 12 pm.(it is 10pm now.)

FOR can be used with all tenses:
- He sleeps FOR 6 hours.
- He slept FOR 2 hours.
- He will sleep for 2 hours.

SINCE is normally only used for the PERFECT TENSES (have, and had)
- I have been talking SINCE 11.00
- I had been busy SINCE 9.00 when I saw him.

BY is used to define a specific moment in the future.
- I will be finished BY 6pm

DURING needs to be used with care.
It can sometimes be used by Spanish speakers to mean FOR.
They are not the same.
It is wrong to say I HAVE BEEN SLEEPING DURING 3 HOURS.

DURING is used to identify an activity within another activity that has been defined.
- Last year I went to Paris FOR 3 months.
- DURING this time I met Maria.
- DURING places the activity of MEETING MARIA within the period FOR 3 MONTHS.

FOR is normally used with a question form of HOW LONG.
- HOW LONG has he been sleeping? He has been sleeping FOR 3 hours.

SINCE is normally used with a question form of SINCE WHEN.
- SINCE WHEN has he been sleeping? He has been sleeping SINCE 8 O'clock.

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  • FOR
  • SINCE
  • DURING
  • AGO
  • UNTIL
  • BY

I have not seen David (1) 2 years.

It has been 2 years (2) I last saw David.

I last saw David 2 years (3) .

I can play (4) 2 pm.

I have to finish (5) 2 pm.

I went to the toilet for 10 minutes (6) the game.


TYPICAL PET TRANSFORMATIONS

It's a long time since they've been to the zoo.

They haven't been to the zoo (7) a long time.


We moved to Madrid 10 years ago.

We have lived in Madrid (8) 10 years.


It's a long time since we played here.

We haven't played here (9) a long time.


We last went to Scotland in 1980.

We haven't been to Scotland (10) 1980.


Grace joined my class 2 years ago.

Grace and I have been in the same class (11) 2 years.


I have not read such a good book for a long time.

It's a long time (12) I read such a good book.


The zoo has been open for a week.

The zoo (13) last week.


David joined the team three years ago.

David has been in the team (14) three years.


The shop has been open for a week.

The shop opened a week (15) .


It was 8.00 when we left the office.

We didn't leave the office (16) 8.00.


Nigel started playing the violin 2 years ago.

Nigel has been playing the violin (17) 2 years.


Sam joined my class last year.

Sam has been in my class (18) 1 year.


I have not read such a good book for a long time.

It's a long time (19) I read such a good book.