How long ago?

Higher Elementary ESOL

Today’s lesson objectives

• Learn how to use for, ago and since in spoken and written language

• Learn the differences between the forms• Practice writing, listening and speaking

This is Sam: what’s happened to him?

He graduated University two years ago

Two years later

Ago

We use the word ago to talk about when something happened in the past. For example:

• He finished school six years ago

• They got married two years ago

• He left an hour ago

•Where is the word ago?•What comes before it?

•Write down two sentences using ago

Question form

When we want to ask a question about how long ago something happened, we use the word when. For example:

Q- When did he finish university?A- he finished 2 years ago

Q- when did she start work? A- 3 months ago

•Write down two questions with when

For

We use the word for to talk about how long something has been happening (the amount of time). For example:

• They have been married for four years

• She has been exercising for an hour

• He has been travelling for three years

•Where is for in the sentence?•What comes after it?•What have you noticed about the word have?

•Write down two sentences using for

Since

We use the word since to talk about the exact time something started. For example:

• I have been waiting since two O’clock

• She’s been sleeping since this morning

• I haven’t seen him since last week

•Where is the word since?•What comes after it?•What have you noticed about the word have?

•Write down two sentences using since

Question form When we want to know the amount of

time someone has been doing something for, we use the word how long. For example:

Q- how long have you been exercising?A- I’ve been exercising for an hour

Q- how long have you lived London? A- I’ve lived in London since 2005

•Write down two sentences using how long

Vocabulary-Starter activity Change these words from the present tense to the past

tense.1. Eat Ate 2. Drink3. Drive 4. Fly 5. Listen to 6. Make 7. Ride 8. Take 9. Watch 10. Wear

Correct answer

1. Ate 2. Drank3. Drove 4. Flew 5. Listened to 6. Made 7. Rode 8. Took 9. Watched 10. Wore

Unit 8: How long ago?

Exercise 1Match the words from the starter activity to the pictures

on page 60 of the New Headway BookExercise 2 Speaking: What were the things people did and didn’t do

a hundred years ago? Give three examples for each. Exercise 3Grammar spot: Change the sentences from present tense

to past tense

Listening for information:

Exercise 1Go to page 61 and listen for the information. Give

the correct dates. http://www.yunost.ru/docs/misc/Headway/

1%20-%20New%20Headway%20-%20Elementary/New%20Headway%20-%20Elementary%20-%20Audio/CD%201%20Units%201-8/66-8.01.MP3

Correct answers

Jeans • 1873- first pair of

jeans were made• 1935- jeans became

fashionable• 1970s- kliene made

12.5 millions from jeans

Television • 1925- first

transmission• 1927- pictures

sent from London to Glasgow

• 1928- Pictures sent to New York

Aspirin • 1899- Aspirin

was first invented • 1950- best selling

pain killer in the world

• 1969- it was taken to the moon

Reading, writing and listening

Exercise 2Make the answers negative and give the correct

answer. For example:Two German’s didn’t make the first pair of jeans.

Two American’s made them. Exercise 3 Listen carefully and check that your answers are

right

Who are these people? Do we know them?

Facts about Beyonce She started singing and performing from a

young ageShe’s married to J-Z the rapper She has a daughter named Blue Ivy She was part of Destiny’s child (an R&B girl

group that sings and dances) She works as a singer, dancer, actress and

producerBeyonce is a philanthropist (she gives money to

those who need it)

Ask Beyonce

Pretend your teacher is Beyonce and ask her questions using when and how long. For example:

• How long have you been singing?

• When did you first get into the music industry? 5 minute

speaking task

Grammar in Use

• Go to page 25 (Unit 12) of the Grammar in Use and do the exercises 12.1 and 12.2

https://new.vk.com/doc8069473_166583160?hash=7c65a9120682e3e8e7

Homework- presentation For your homework for next week’s lesson, you’ll be

doing a presentation about an important event in the past. The presentation should be 8 minutes long and should mention these things. Please include pictures.

• What year did the event happen?• What happened? • Give information about the place and the people• Why did it happen?• Why is this event important?• Why have you chosen this event?