Difference between revisions of "Language/English/Vocabulary/Ago"
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== | ==Word order: six weeks ago== | ||
Ago follows an expression of time. | Ago follows an expression of time. | ||
Example: | Example: | ||
I met her six weeks ago. | *I met her six weeks ago. | ||
== | ==Tenses== | ||
An expression with ago refers to a finished time, and is normally used with a past tense, not a present perfect. | An expression with ago refers to a finished time, and is normally used with a past tense, not a present perfect. | ||
Examples: | Examples: | ||
She phoned a few minutes ago. (not She has phoned) | *She phoned a few minutes ago. (not She has phoned) | ||
‘Where’s Mike? '‘He was working outside ten minutes ago.’ | *‘Where’s Mike? '‘He was working outside ten minutes ago.’ | ||
== | |||
==The difference between ago and for== | |||
Ago says how long before the present something happened; for (with a past tense) says how long it lasted. | Ago says how long before the present something happened; for (with a past tense) says how long it lasted. | ||
Compare: | Compare: | ||
He died three years ago. (= three years before now) (not He died for three years, or for three years ago.) | *He died three years ago. (= three years before now) (not He died for three years, or for three years ago.) | ||
He was ill for three years before he died. (= His illness lasted three years.) | *He was ill for three years before he died. (= His illness lasted three years.) | ||
== | ==Ago and before with time expressions: counting back== | ||
We use "ago" with a past tense and a time expression to ‘count back' from the present; to say how long before now something happened. | We use "ago" with a past tense and a time expression to ‘count back' from the present; to say how long before now something happened. | ||
We can use "before" in the same way (with a past perfect tense) to count back from a past moment. | We can use "before" in the same way (with a past perfect tense) to count back from a past moment. | ||
Compare: | Compare: | ||
I met that woman in Scotland three years ago.(not three years before/ before three years) | *I met that woman in Scotland three years ago.(not three years before/ before three years) | ||
When we got talking I found out that I had been at school with her husband ten years before, (not ten years ago.) | *When we got talking I found out that I had been at school with her husband ten years before, (not ten years ago.) | ||
Revision as of 11:30, 9 May 2020
Ago
Word order: six weeks ago
Ago follows an expression of time.
Example:
- I met her six weeks ago.
Tenses
An expression with ago refers to a finished time, and is normally used with a past tense, not a present perfect.
Examples:
- She phoned a few minutes ago. (not She has phoned)
- ‘Where’s Mike? '‘He was working outside ten minutes ago.’
The difference between ago and for
Ago says how long before the present something happened; for (with a past tense) says how long it lasted.
Compare:
- He died three years ago. (= three years before now) (not He died for three years, or for three years ago.)
- He was ill for three years before he died. (= His illness lasted three years.)
Ago and before with time expressions: counting back
We use "ago" with a past tense and a time expression to ‘count back' from the present; to say how long before now something happened.
We can use "before" in the same way (with a past perfect tense) to count back from a past moment.
Compare:
- I met that woman in Scotland three years ago.(not three years before/ before three years)
- When we got talking I found out that I had been at school with her husband ten years before, (not ten years ago.)