EnglishTime Markers and Life Experiences
Choose for or since for each time expression. Say the full phrase aloud. ⏳
Time expression | Choose |
|---|---|
3 years | for / since |
Monday | for / since |
ages | for / since |
2019 | for / since |
last summer | for / since |
two months | for / since |
I was a child | for / since |
January | for / since |
Choose, then give one reason. 🗣️
Choosing the Right Present Perfect Form
Focus | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
Experience, achievement, result | have/has + past participle | I have visited Japan twice. |
Activity continuing now; duration | have/has been + verb-ing | I have been studying English for three years. |
Time word | Use |
|---|---|
for | a period: for two months, for ages |
since | a starting point: since 2019, since Monday |
already / just | usually in affirmative sentences |
yet | usually in questions and negative sentences |
ever / never | life experience |
Follow the decision path
Put these steps in the most useful order when choosing a tense for an achievement or completed experience.
Put the steps in order.
- Decide whether you mean an experience, achievement, or completed result.
- Choose have or has.
- Use the past participle.
- Add a time word such as already, just, ever, or never if needed.
Follow the duration path
Put these steps in order when describing an activity that began earlier and is still continuing.
Put the steps in order.
- Identify the continuing activity.
- Choose have or has.
- Add been and the verb-ing form.
- Add for + a period or since + a starting point.
Choose the form
Choose the best form for each sentence.
- Maya [___] Japan twice.
- We [___] at the community centre for six months, and we are still there.
- He [___] his professional qualification.
Complete the sentences
Use the verb in brackets. ✍️
- She [___] for her first marathon since January.
- They [___] a small online business.
- How long [___] English?
Five People Who Changed Their Lives After 40
Five People Who Changed Their Lives After 40
At 42, Maya has left her office job and has opened a small bakery. She has been baking professionally for eighteen months and has already won a local food prize. Omar has just completed a university degree at 47. He has studied online since 2021 while working full-time. At 51, Lena has moved to the coast and has been teaching swimming for three years. Victor has never run before, but he has trained for his first marathon since January. Finally, Priya has travelled to twelve countries after 45. She has visited five countries this year and has been writing a travel blog for four years. None of them has said the change was easy, but all five have discovered new skills, qualifications, and friendships. Their stories show that a new direction can begin at any age.
Difficult words
- professionally — as a paid job or career
- local food prize — an award from the local area
- degree — a university qualification
- full-time — working the usual maximum number of hours
- coast — land next to the sea
- marathon — a very long running race
- direction — the general path or plan in life
Talk about the article
- What achievement has Maya made since leaving her office job?
- How long has Lena been teaching swimming?
- Who has just completed a university degree?
- Which person has never done an activity before but is training for it now?
Looking at Life Changes
Describe what you see. Then answer:
- What has this person achieved?
- How long have they been studying or training?
- What qualification have they just received?
Describe what you see. Then answer:
- What has this person done recently?
- How long have they been travelling or waiting?
- Where have they travelled from or planned to travel to?
Interview Your Teacher
Scenario: Find out about your teacher’s life experiences and current activities. Ask follow-up questions. Then give a short report. 🗣️
Find someone who...
Ask whether your teacher:
- has been to more than three countries;
- has lived in another city;
- has been studying English for more than five years.
Useful language
- Have you ever been to …?
- How many countries have you travelled to?
- How long have you lived there?
- How long have you been studying English?
- Have you already …?
- My teacher has …
- My teacher has been … for / since …
Suggested sequence
- Ask three main questions.
- Ask one follow-up question for each answer.
- Give a short report about your teacher.
Your Achievements So Far
Write 60–120 words about your life achievements and current activities. Include all of these:
- I have lived …
- I have been studying …
- I have already …
- but I haven’t … yet
- one phrase with for or since
- one future goal
Useful phrases
- One important achievement so far is …
- I have recently …
- I have volunteered for …
- I have travelled to …
- I have given up …
- In the future, I would like to …
- My next goal is to …
Check before you finish
Check | Yes? |
|---|---|
I used both Present Perfect forms. | ☐ |
I used for or since correctly. | ☐ |
I used already and yet appropriately. | ☐ |
My ideas are connected clearly. | ☐ |
<essay>I have lived...</essay>
Key Points and Next Steps
Meaning | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
Experience, achievement, result | have/has + past participle | I have graduated. |
Continuing activity and duration | have/has been + verb-ing | I have been training for months. |
Period of time | for | for ages |
Starting point | since | since 2021 |
- Use already for something completed earlier than expected.
- Use just for something completed very recently.
- Use yet in questions and negative sentences.
- Use ever and never to talk about life experiences. ✅
For next time
- Write five interview questions using Have you ever …?
- Write five questions using How long have you been …?
- Answer your questions in a short life-story profile. Include one achievement, one ongoing activity, and one future goal.
