|
ESL Forum:
Techniques and methods
in Language Teaching
Games, activities
and teaching ideas
Grammar and
Linguistics
Teaching material
Concerning
worksheets
Concerning
powerpoints
Concerning online
exercises
Make suggestions,
report errors
Ask for help
Message board
|
ESL forum >
Grammar and Linguistics > Since a fortnight ago - correct?
Since a fortnight ago - correct?
|
Ewcik
|
Since a fortnight ago - correct?
|
|
I �ve found in my exercise book a phrase "a fortnight ago". The task is to insert "for" or "since" before the phrase. I �ve never encountered either combination. Is it possible to say "since a fortnight ago"? It looks so weird to me :/ I would say either "a fortnight ago" or "for a fortnight"
|
17 May 2010
|
|
|
|
licatri
|
A FORTNIGHT IS AN AMOUNT OF TIME, LIKE TWO WEEKS...SO IT �S SIMILAR TO SAY TWO WEEKS AGO...BUT NOT SINCE TWO WEEKS AGO.
A FORTNIGHT AGO OR FOR A FORTNIGHT WOULD BE THE CORRECT ANSWER
|
17 May 2010
|
|
|
juliag
|
|
As a native speaker I would say "since a fortnight ago" and from these google results it looks like it �s an accepted phrase:
Hope it helps.
Good night. |
17 May 2010
|
|
|
Ewcik
|
Thanks. It helps a lot 
|
17 May 2010
|
|
|
yanogator
|
|
I agree that "since a fortnight ago" sounds correct, but "for a fortnight" means the same thing and it already sounds correct to you.
Oh, I just realized that you were asking about an exercise you say, so my comment really doesn�t matter.
Bruce |
17 May 2010
|
|
|
arkel
|
|
I �m also a native speaker and would NEVER say since a fortnight ago. I agree with licatri. |
17 May 2010
|
|
|
alien boy
|
|
Okay.... what does �since � mean? If you use it with a time reference (e.g. �since a fortnight ago �) it will refer to a change in circumstance that occurred at the explicit time �a fortnight ago �
Example: I �ve only been teaching at this school since a fortnight ago.
Many native speakers would say: I �ve only been teaching at this school for the last fortnight.
The difference being that in the example it would mean that you have been teaching somewhere else prior to a fortnight ago. In the second example it may mean that you haven �t been teaching anywhere else before a fortnight ago.
I would admit, though, that it isn �t a commonly heard construction using �fortnight � where I �m from.
Cheers,
AB |
26 May 2010
|
|
|
