0
Son James Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

Ago VS Earlier?

First, please look at the following sentence.

"It started 6 months ago".

Can I change like this? "It started 6 months earlier"

If not, could you explain to me why I can't use "earlier" instead of "ago"? ( I think the meaning of "earlier" is the same as that of "ago". eg) what time did you arrive here?
20 minutes ago! ( 20 minutes earlier!). Am I wrong?)

Thank you for your answer in advance.
  

Top answer

"Ago" and "earlier" are definitely not interchangeable. "Six months ago" means six months before the current time. "Six months earlier" means six months before some other event that has just been described.

— DMW

  • "Ago" and "earlier" are definitely not interchangeable.
  • "Six months ago" means six months before the current time.
  • "Six months earlier" means six months before some other event that has just been described.
  • Six months ago, I bought a new car.
  • Six months earlier, I had started saving for it.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

4 Answers
0
"Ago" and "earlier" are definitely not interchangeable. "Six months ago" means six months before the current time. "Six months earlier" means six months before some other event that has just been described.

Six months ago, I bought a new car. Six months earlier, I had started saving for it.
This means I started saving 12 months ago, then bought the car after s
0
0
Thank you for your teaching,Mr.DMW
0
0
You should've come here ten minuties ago.

I think in this sentence, 'ago' and 'earlier' are interchangable.
0
0
I don’t know the difference between both.
0

Related Questions