why should be ages instead of times?

[Janita]

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #276 "If memory serves me right", question 2

Pete: I'm not really worried. It's just that for ......... I've been trying to remember the name of that actor in the first ever colour film.

(a) times
(b) ages
(c) periods
(d) lengths

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #276 "If memory serves me right", answer 2

Pete: I'm not really worried. It's just that for ages I've been trying to remember the name of that actor in the first ever colour film.

Correct answer: (b) ages

Your answer was: incorrect
Pete: I'm not really worried. It's just that for times I've been trying to remember the name of that actor in the first ever colour film.
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why should be ages instead of times

Janita

[Alan]

Hi Janita,

'For times' could be used to mean for special occasions and would then have to be defined with some sort of clause as in: For times when I feel tired, I usually have a cup of coffee. In the test sentence the expression 'for ages' is the right one because it means 'for a very long time.'

Alan
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English as a Second Language
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