Gateway to Grammar: Understanding time in English

Do you want to explore Halloweens you have had before? Do you want to show, how great Halloween was 3 years ago? Let’s explore how to use time flags in English.

For

For is used to show a length of time. It can be now, in the past or in the future (length of time):

• I have been a spooky skeleton for 6 years

• I dressed up as a zombie for 3 years.

• I will celebrate Halloween for a whole month next year.

Since

Since is used to talk about the time that has passed after a specific point (point in time):

• I haven’t eaten candy at Halloween since I was a child

• I have been preparing for Halloween since October the 1st

• I have been scared of ghouls since Halloween 2017

Ago

Ago is to talk about a specific time in the past (point in time):

• I dressed as a killer clown 3 years ago

• I celebrated Halloween in a 2 weeks ago

• I broke my favourite Halloween decoration 10 minutes ago

Before

Before is used to show what order things happen. 1 happens before 2 (order).

• I ate all the candy before you got here.

• Sandy dressed the cat as a bat before we could stop her.

• Alice is going trick or treating before dinner.

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