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PhillipK Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

Before

0 Is 01b00before02b00 used in 01i00past perfect02i00 in the same way as 01b00ago02b00 in 01i00past simple02i00?02br
02br
00Example: past perfect: 01i00When I arrived, his room-mate told me that he had left three hours before.02i02br
00 past simple: 01i00He left three hours ago, sorry mate.02i02br
02br
00Thank you. 0-
  

Top answer

02i 00 Yes, people say this casually. It seems less casual to say something like 'earlier' rather than 'before'. 02i 02font 02br 02br 00Best wishes, Clive0-

— Clive

  • 02i 00 Yes, people say this casually.
  • It seems less casual to say something like 'earlier' rather than 'before'.
  • 02i 02font 02br 02br 00Best wishes, Clive0-
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2 Answers
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0Hi,02br
02br
01font00Is 01b00before02b00 used in 01i00past perfect02i00 in the same way as 01b00ago02b00 in 01i00past simple02i00?02br
02br
00Example: past perfect: 01i00When I arrived, his room-mate told me that he had left thr
0
0
0It seems like you're concentrating on reported speech. As Clive says, 01i00earlier02i00 is most likely the word you want to replace 01i00ago02i00 when you backshift the tenses.02br
02br
00Examples:02br
01i00James said, "Henry left two hours ago." James said that Henry had left two hours earlier. 02i
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