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Jisu98 Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

I did it before? --- possible?

0Hello!02br
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00I want to know about 'ago' / 'before' . What is the difference between them?02br
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00I exerpted the next from a grammar book. 02br
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00ago: used for a past action measured from the present02br
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00before: used for a past action measured from the more recent past. 02br
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00So, 02br
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00He did it 2 yrs ago. ----right.02br
02br
00He has done it 2 years before --- right.02br
02br
00 what about 01font00'He did it 2 years before02font00.' ?02br
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00 and 01font00'He did it before'02font00?02br
02br
01font00The markings were made long before02font00.?02br
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00I am sure that 01font00He has read it 2 years ago. -----wrong.02font02br
02br
00 Are they right or wrong? 0-
  

Top answer

02br 02br 00Tuesday was one day ago. Monday was two days ago. 02br 02br 00Today is the present.

— Avangi

  • 02br 02br 00Tuesday was one day ago.
  • Monday was two days ago.
  • 02br 02br 00Today is the present.
  • Yesterday is the past.
  • "The day before yesterday" is the past.
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6 Answers
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0Today is Wednesday, yesterday was Tuesday, and "the day before yesterday" was Monday.02br
02br
00Tuesday was one day ago. Monday was two days ago. Monday was one day before Tuesday.02br
02br
00Today is the present. Yesterday is the past. "The day before yesterday" is the past. But yesterday is "the more recent past" compared to "the day before yesterd
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1font00Try:02font02br
01i01font00He did it 01b00two02b00 years 01b00ago02b02font01b00.02b02i02br
01i01font00He did it 01b00two02b00 years 01b00before that. 
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0My question was :02br
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00before can be used with any simple tense.02br
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00He did it 2 years before. ( from the present, 2years before; Meaning,01font00 'before' can be use instead of 'ago'?)02font02br
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00For the examples you gave me, really thank you. easy to understand.02br
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0Hi Jisu,02br
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00I'd say the answer to your question is no. I can't think of a case where "before" may be substituted for a correct useage of "ago."02br
02br
01b00Before02b00 always requires a time reference. It's comparing two different times in the past, saying time B was 01b00before02b00 time A.02br
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0---------four years ago -------------------two years ago --------------------now ----------------02br
00 A B C02br
00 He bought the house. He painted the house. 02br
02br
00A He bought the house four years ago.02br
00B He p
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0thank you.02br
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00I make errors everytime I post. sorry.02br
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00"My question was: 'before' can be used with any simple past?........ And now I know that 'before' can't be used with a single simple past tense,02br
02br
00 But it can b
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