IN ages or FOR ages

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Hela

#217714 Wed, 19 Apr 06 07:48 PM

Dear teachers,

Would you say "I haven't been to the cinema FOR / IN ages" or both? Is "IN ages" American English ? Are there other instances where we can use "IN ages"?

Thank you for your help.

Hela

Hela

Joined on Mon, Nov 15 2004

Tunisia

Regular Member (831)

American English

Grammar Geek

#217718 Wed, 19 Apr 06 07:51 PM

American English speaker here: I'd say "...in ages."

Grammar Geek

Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006

Pennsylvania, USA

Veteran Member (16,089)

Barbara, who answers in American English.

American English

Hela

#217722 Wed, 19 Apr 06 07:59 PM

Grammar Geek, would you please give me other examples where you would say "IN ages"?

Hela

Grammar

Grammar Geek

#217729 Wed, 19 Apr 06 08:19 PM

It's just an informal expression meaning "in a very long time.

Come on, let's go to lunch. We haven't been out together for lunch in ages.

Oh my gosh - I haven't seen you in ages!

Also, you can use "it's been ages since."

Mom, it's been ages since you said we could go to the park. When are we leaving? (Translation for a 7 year old: at least 15 minutes)

It's been ages since we've been to this restaurant - look what's happened to the prices.

Does that help?

Grammar Geek

Expressions, Translation

MrPedantic

#217831 Thu, 20 Apr 06 01:36 AM

Either would do, in BrE; but "for" is probably more usual.

MrP

MrPedantic

Joined on Tue, Oct 12 2004

Veteran Member (12,168)

...opella forensis / adducit febris...

Hela

#217928 Thu, 20 Apr 06 07:48 AM

Thanks

Hela