Words / A1

adverb · A1

Ago

uh-GOH/əˈɡəʊ/

Ago comes after a time phrase and looks back from now: ten minutes ago, two years ago. Before is a preposition (before lunch) or a conjunction (before I left). Last is for calendar units: last week, not a week ago if you mean that calendar week. Do not say ago two days.

Meaning

Before now; used after a time word.

Examples

  • “She left ten minutes ago.”
  • “I met her three days ago.”
  • “The shop closed an hour ago.”

Good to know

time + ago (never ago + time). Contrast: before, last week.

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