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before vs. ago

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English tips: Usage of the word High-flyer | Even if vs Even though

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#16 (permalink) Wed Feb 25, 2009 18:41 pm before vs. ago

Me wrote:

Thanks for your reply Cerberus. I feel I'm still confused about the proper use of these two words as an adverb. :(
Would you please complete this sentence with proper word?
"I went there two weeks _ _ _ _ _ _ ". Which one is the most appropriate choice? Ago or Before? Thanks in advance. :)

Either one could be correct.

"I read that Paris was destroyed by a flood on monday! Can you imagine? I went there two weeks before!"
Here, only "before" is correct if I want to express two weeks before monday, because before can refer to an extent of time before a point in the past. If I mean two weeks before now, "ago" would be better.

"Mother, don't say that, Paris is a beautiful city. I went there two weeks ago."
Here, "ago" is better, because it refers to an extent of time before now = before the moment of speaking/writing.

Cerberus™
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#17 (permalink) Wed Feb 25, 2009 18:45 pm Verb 'Be' (Unit 2)

Carole wrote:

Torsten,
Am enjoying everyday's lesson thanks to you.

Carole,

Please don't mind but it is good to stick to the topic of the post. You could at any point create a new topic.

Ago versus Before:

Does 'before' connote a comparison whereas 'ago' is used to talk about a certain point in time?

(Cerberus, you answered before I asked ;))
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#18 (permalink) Wed Feb 25, 2009 19:02 pm Verb 'Be' (Unit 2)

That sometimes happens to me, too! Incidentally, I added an extra sentence to my first example, something I had forgotten.

Cerberus™
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#19 (permalink) Thu Feb 26, 2009 19:46 pm Verb 'Be' (Unit 2)

Thank you for your explanation Cerberus. It's very much clear to me now. :D

Me
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English tips: Usage of the word High-flyer | Even if vs Even though

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