Talking About Diet, Time, and Life Changes

Using Since, For, In, and Ago in Real Communication

Introduction

When we talk about food, health, or lifestyle changes, we often need to explain when something started, how long it has continued, or when it happened in the past.

These ideas are expressed using key time structures in English:

• since

• for

• in

• ago

These structures are essential for everyday communication, not only when discussing diet, but also when talking about work, relationships, fitness, and personal development.

Part 1: What Are These Structures Called?

These are known as time expressions or expressions of duration and time reference.

They are commonly used with two important tenses:

• Present Perfect (have/has + past participle)

• Present Perfect Continuous (have/has been + verb-ing)

• Past Simple (finished past actions)

Understanding how these work together allows learners to describe life experiences more naturally.

Part 2: Core Grammar

1. SINCE (Starting Point)

Use since to describe the exact moment something began.

Structure:Subject + have/has + been + verb (-ing) + since + point in time

Examples:

• I have been eating healthy since 2020.

• I have been following a balanced diet since January.

• I have been avoiding processed food since I started training.

Use since with:

• specific dates (since 2012)

• months (since March)

• events (since I moved)

This structure shows that the action started in the past and continues now.

2. FOR (Duration)

Use for to describe how long something has continued.

Structure:Subject + have/has + been + verb (-ing) + for + duration

Examples:

• I have been eating clean for three years.

• I have been reducing sugar for a few months.

• I have been cooking at home for a long time.

Use for with:

• periods of time (for two weeks, for five years)

3. IN (Finished Time in the Past)

Use in to indicate when something happened in the past.

Structure:Subject + past simple + in + time expression

Examples:

• I changed my diet in January.

• I started meal preparation in 2022.

• I stopped eating fast food in high school.

This describes a completed action.

4. AGO (Time Before Now)

Use ago to describe how long before the present something happened.

Structure:Subject + past simple + time + ago

Examples:

• I changed my diet two years ago.

• I stopped drinking soda three months ago.

• I started eating more vegetables a long time ago.

This also refers to finished actions.

Part 3: Using These Structures in Other Topics

These time expressions are not limited to food. They are used across many areas of life.

Work

• I have been working at this company since 2021.

• I have been managing a team for two years.

• I got promoted three months ago.

Fitness

• I have been training regularly since last year.

• I have been going to the gym for six months.

• I started weightlifting in 2023.

Relationships

• I have known her since college.

• I have been in this relationship for three years.

• We met five years ago.

Learning English

• I have been studying English since I was a child.

• I have been taking lessons for one year.

• I started learning English in school.

These structures help learners speak about experience, progress, and change over time.

Part 4: B1–B2 Vocabulary on Food and Diet

Healthy Eating

• balanced diet

• whole foods

• fresh ingredients

• vegetables and greens

• lean protein

• homemade meals

• meal preparation

Unhealthy Eating

• processed food

• fast food

• junk food

• sugary snacks

• soft drinks

• fried food

Habits and Lifestyle

• eating habits

• portion size

• calorie intake

• to reduce / to cut down on

• to avoid

• to follow a diet

Part 5: Reading

A Personal Change in Eating Habits

A few years ago, I decided to change the way I eat. Before that, I used to rely heavily on fast food and processed meals because I had a busy schedule and did not plan my meals carefully. As a result, I often felt tired and lacked energy throughout the day.

I changed my diet in January, after realizing that my eating habits were affecting my health. Since then, I have been focusing on eating more whole foods and cooking at home. I have also been reducing my sugar intake and increasing the amount of vegetables in my meals.

At first, it was difficult to maintain these changes. However, I have been following this routine for over a year now, and it has become part of my daily life. I feel more energetic, and I am more aware of what I eat.

Looking back, I made this decision about two years ago, and it has had a positive impact on both my physical and mental well-being.

Part 6: Discussion Questions

1. When did you last change something in your diet, and why?

2. How long have you been following your current eating habits?

3. Do you think it is difficult to maintain healthy habits over time? Why or why not?

Final Note

Mastering these time expressions allows learners to move beyond basic sentences and communicate more precisely about their lives. By combining vocabulary with structures like since and for, students can describe not only what they do, but also their progress, consistency, and personal development over time.