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. (Napoleón murió hace casi 200 años.)

My family bought this flat about 25 years ago. (Mi familia compró este piso hace aproximadamente 25 años.)

A: Where were you 10 years ago? (¿Dónde estabas hace 10 años?)

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. (Vivimos aquí desde 1991.)

We have lived here since last year. (Vivimos aquí desde el año pasado.)

I haven't spoken to her since 1991. (No he hablado con ella desde 1991.)

I haven't spoken to her since last year. (No he hablado con ella desde el año pasado.)

I haven't spoken to her since the party. (No he hablado con ella desde la fiesta.)

I haven't spoken to her since they arrived. (No he hablado con ella des de que llegaron.)

We have been waiting since 9 o'clock. (Estamos esperando desde las 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. (Vivieron en París desde 1995 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 Segunda Guerra Mundial duró 6 años.)

I've had a mobile phone for over 2 years. (Tengo un móvil desde hace más de 2 años.)

I haven't spoken to her for a long time. (Hace mucho tiempo que no hablo con ella.)

We are staying here for a week. (Nos quedamos aquí durante una semana.)

My brother will be in the army for two years. (Mi hermano pasará dos años en el ejército.)

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. (Durante el siglo 18, la ciencia progresaba rápidamente.)

During May the town puts on several cultural events. (Durante el mes de mayo el pueblo organiza diferentes acontecimientos culturales.)

The clock stopped during the night. (El reloj se paró durante la noche.)

What was the food situation during the war? (¿Cómo era la situación de la comida durante la guerra?)

I met my husband during my stay in Venice. (Conocí a mi marido durante mi estancia en Venecia.)

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