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4° SINCE/ FOR/ AGO semaine 9

Leçon et exercices sur la signification et emploi de since/for/ago

FOR

« For » exprime la durée. Il peut être associé au prétérit mais aussi au present perfect.

 For et prétérit
Dans ce cas, l’action n’a aucun lien avec le présent.
Ex. : She lived here for two years → Elle a habité ici pendant deux ans.

 For et present perfect

Dans ce cas, « for » peut être traduit par « depuis », ici l’action a un lien avec le présent. Ex. :
She has left for hours → elle est partie depuis des heures

 For et present perfect be+ing

Dans ce cas, « for » peut être traduit par « depuis », l’action a toujours un lien avec le présent
et l’activité est mise en avant.
Ex: They have been watching the TV for more than two hours →Ils regardent la té lé depuis
plus de deux heures.

SINCE

« Since » exprime le lien entre le début de l’action et le présent.

Il est suivi d’une date précise ou d’une expression qui indique clairement le début de
l’action.
Il est donc utilisé avec le present perfect.

« Since » est traduit par « depuis »

Ex: I have worked in this society since 1990→ Je travaille dans cette socié té depuis 1990 Ex: I
have been reading this book since yesterday →Je lis ce livre depuis hier

ATTENTION: ex: They have not cryed since their father came → Ils n’ont pas pleuré depuis
que leur père est venu

Ici, « since » est suivi d’un prétérit car le complément de phrases exprime la date, le point de
départ de l’action.

AGO

“Ago” exprime la date. Il se traduit par “il y a”.

Il est utilisé uniquement avec le prétérit et se place après le complément de temps. Ex. :
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He bought his car two days ago → Il a acheté sa voiture il y a deux jours.

Exercices

1- Complétez les phrases suivantes avec for, since, ago

a) I lived in Paris ..............................2000.
b) They haven’t seen us...................... ages.
c) He died 21 years…………………………….

d) We met for the first time 2 years……..

2- Même exercice
a)……………….my birthday, I have been waiting for him to contact me.
b) I received a computer ............................................. my birthday
c) Two months……………., I bought a car.
d) They didn’t see us ............................................. a long time
e)the day I met you, I feel good.

3- Même exercice
a)…………………………..;the winter, she stayed in front of the chimney .............. hours
b) Sarah moved from Los Angeles .................... during December 2002.
c) The two journalists were kidnapped one week…………………………..
d) My father has worked in this bank ............................................ five years.
e) Have you started that job two weeks ................................ ?

4- Même exercice

a) The maid has worked with our family…………………..1995.

b) This job has been vacant…………………………….January.
c) I went to London two years…………………………
d) It has been raining………………………. the morning.That's why we're staying inside.
e) I have been working there……………………….. I have been working there.
f) I have been working there……………………….. three hours.
g) We waited and we will wait……………………… hours.
h) Jane's penfriend sent her a beautiful present ten days.......................
i) You haven't talked to me……………………… our argument last month.
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4° Le prétérit en be +Ving semaine 8

Corrigé

E xercice 1 (corrigé)

1 . Francis and Chloe were walking along a beach when they came upon a baby turtle.

2 . While they were driving to Uluru, their car broke down.

3 . They were swiming when suddenly someone shouted there were sharks.

4 . While they were visiting the Sydney Opera House, someone offered them tickets for a concert of the
Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

E xercice 2 (corrigé)

I was watching (watch) TV when my wife called me. When she looked

(look) up, I realized that she was crying.

I immediately thought (think) that something terrible had happened. Actually, a

mouse was running (run) in the kitchen.

I opened (open) the door and it left.

It was late and my son was sleeping (sleep).

I switched (switch) off the light in his bedroom, but he

heard (hear) me and he woke up.

So, I decided (decide) to read a story

but while I was reading (read), I realized that he had fallen asleep again.