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Since, for, while, during, ago

SINCE indicates an action that started in the past and is still going on now. It is often used with the present perfect .

The sailors have encountered several heavy storms since they set off on their around-the-world earth journey .

The youngest member of the team of astronauts has felt homesick since they left  the Earth .

DURING is used when we talk about an event that happens WITHIN a period of time .It's followed by a noun and answers the question WHEN .

During last week, the plumbers were repeatedly called to the same address.

During the course of this year the head of the company has looked over the payment system several times.

WHILE is followed by a subject + a verb or an infinitive+ing .It is used to talk about two actions that are happening at the same time .It can be used with progressive or simple tenses .

While he was waiting at the dentist's, his toothache went away.

He broke his fishing rod while he was attempting to reel in a big fish.

FOR is used to indicate a period of time .It answers the question HOW LONG .It can be used with all tenses but often with the present perfect .

Santa Claus has hired a few people who will work with him for several weeks.

Our neighbour's daughter practices her violin for at least 10-15 minutes every day .

AGO is used to talk about the moment when an action took place . It is mostly used with a past tense, but  not with a perfect tense .

A hundred years ago, a poor villager caught a goldfish here.And ten years ago, the world's newest and largest fish market was built here.

What do you think the poor villager asked the goldfish a hundred years ago ?

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English exercise "Since, for, while, during, ago" created by jandark with The test builder. [More lessons & exercises from jandark]
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1. The shopkeeper has been waiting for the new cash registers duringsincewhileI don't know last month.

2. A welder must protect his eyes with the mask whilesinceduringI don't know he is welding.

3. A group of politicians have been trying to solve an indescribable problem sinceforwhileI don't know a long time.

4. The fishermen have often been troubled by cats duringwhileforI don't know they offload a catch.

5. An investigator can't usually divulge all the details he knows forwhileduringI don't know an investigation.

6. The chimney sweeper's ladder was stolen from under the eaves whileduringforI don't know he was sweeping the chimney.

7. A night watcher mustn't fall asleep forwhileduringI don't know he is doing his work.

8. A blacksmith has to be fast and precise duringforwhileI don't know forging a hot metal.

9. A week sinceforagoI don't know this farmer's beehives were attacked twice a day by a bear.

10. AgoSinceForI don't know the lion was put on a diet the trainer had difficulties working with it.