11.2 Ago, since, for and during

We use ago to specify a point of time in the past, e.g.:

five minutes ago, two months ago, ages ago, 300 years ago, a long time ago

We typically use ago with the past simple and the past continuous, e.g.:

Napoleon died almost 200 years ago. (Napoleó va morir fa gairebé 200 anys.)

My family bought this flat about 25 years ago. (La meva família va comprar aquest pis fa aproximadament 25 anys.)

A: Where were you 10 years ago? (On eres fa 10 anys?)

We use since to relate a point of time, or an event in past time, to the present time, e.g.:

since 1991, since last year, since the party, since they arrived

Expressions with since are used with the present perfect simple and the present perfect continuous, e.g.:

We have lived here since 1991. (Vivim aquí des de 1991.)

We have lived here since last year. (Vivim aquí des de l'any passat.)

I haven't spoken to her since 1991. (No he parlat amb ella des de 1991.)

I haven't spoken to her since last year. (No he parlat amb ella des de l'any passat.)

I haven't spoken to her since the party. (No he parlat amb ella des de la festa ença.)

I haven't spoken to her since they arrived. (No he parlat amb ella des de que van arribar.)

We have been waiting since 9 o'clock. (Esperem des de les 9.)

Notice that if you specify the beginning and end of the period of time, then we use from … to, not since, and we cannot then use the present perfect, e.g.:

They lived in Paris from 1995 to 1999. (Van viure a París des de 1995 fins a 1999.)

We use for (not during) to specify a period of time, e.g.:

for 10 seconds, for two months, for 200 years, for a long time

This period can be in past time, present time or future time. Consequently, we can use these expressions with different tenses, e.g.:

The Second World War lasted for 6 years. (La Segona Guerra Mundial va durar 6 anys.)

I've had a mobile phone for over 2 years. (Tinc un mòbil des de fa més de 2 anys.)

I haven't spoken to her for a long time. (Fa molt de temps que no parlo amb ella.)

We are staying here for a week. (Ens quedem aquí durant una setmana.)

My brother will be in the army for two years. (El meu germà passarà dos anys a l'exèrcit.)

We typically use during with a specific century, year or month, etc., with a part of the day or with an event, e.g.:

during the 17th century, during May, during the night, during the war, during my stay in Venice

During the 18th century science progressed rapidly. (Durant el segle XVIII, la ciència progressava ràpidament.)

During May the town puts on several cultural events. (Durant el mes de maig el poble organitza diversos esdeveniments culturals.)

The clock stopped during the night. (El rellotge es va aturar durant la nit.)

What was the food situation during the war? (Quina era la situació del menjar durant la guerra?)

I met my husband during my stay in Venice. (Vaig conèixer el meu marit durant la meva estada a Venècia.)

	For ago, see also past simple and for for and since, see also present perfect simple.