Ago vs Before at a glance
- ago
/əˈɡəʊ/ · adverb
Back in time from now; it comes after a length of time.
- I moved here three years ago.
- She called about ten minutes ago.
- before
/bɪˈfɔː/ · adverb / preposition / conjunction
Earlier than a certain time or event, or at any time in the past.
- Have you been to Japan before?
- When I got to the station, the train had left ten minutes before.
How to remember it
Ago always looks back from today. Before looks back from another moment, or means 'ever'.
Good to know
Ago goes with the past simple, not the present perfect, and it comes after the time phrase ("a week ago", not "ago a week"). In reported speech, "ago" often changes to "before" or "earlier": "She said she had arrived two days before."
Common mistakes
Wrong: I have seen him two days ago.
Right: I saw him two days ago.
Wrong: I met her before two weeks.
Right: I met her two weeks ago.
Wrong: I've never eaten sushi ago.
Right: I've never eaten sushi before.
Quick quiz
1.We bought this car five years .
2.I'm sure I've seen this film .
3.Wash your hands you eat.
Pick the right word for each gap.
Often confused too
- sincevsforUse since with a starting point (since Monday, since 2020) and for with a length of time (for three days, for ten years).
- alreadyvsyetUse already in positive sentences for something that has happened (I've already eaten). Use yet in questions and negatives (Have you eaten yet? I haven't eaten yet).