ago
ago — 副詞
1. used after a length of time (such as two days, six months, ten years) to say how
…前;之前
從現在往回數一段時間之前
used after a length of time (such as two days, six months, ten years) to say how long before now an event happened.
Yael moved from Taipei to Tainan about three months ago.
Yael 大約三個月前從台北搬到台南。
[time period] + ago after a simple past verb
My grandfather built this wooden house over fifty years ago.
我祖父在五十多年前蓋了這棟木造房子。
approximator 'over' before the time period
Five minutes ago, the kettle in the kitchen started to whistle.
五分鐘前,廚房裡的水壺開始鳴笛了。
Yusuf sent me a text message just a moment ago.
Yusuf 才剛剛傳簡訊給我。
The bakery on Park Street closed down two weeks ago.
公園街上的那間麵包店在兩週前收掉了。
- before
'before' marks a point earlier than another past moment (e.g. 'the day before'); 'ago' counts back from now.
- previously
more formal; doesn't require a measured time phrase and can stand alone.
- back
informal, often paired with 'ago' or used alone ('a few years back').
文法句型
[time period] + ago
subject + simple past + ... + [time period] + ago
用法筆記
Only sense that takes a measured time phrase before it (e.g. 'two days ago'), never after. Pairs with the simple past, never the present perfect — distinguish from 'for' (duration up to now) and 'since' (starting point continuing to now).
常見錯誤
ago — 形容詞
1. happening or existing at a point in the past, when describing a stretch of time
久遠的;過往
屬於早已過去的時光
happening or existing at a point in the past, when describing a stretch of time that has already gone by.
Those happy summers in the village now feel long ago and far away.
村子裡那些快樂的夏天,如今感覺既久遠又遙不可及。
predicative adjective use after 'feel'
The days of cheap rent in this neighbourhood are long ago.
這個社區房租便宜的日子早已是過往。
predicative: subject + be + long ago
For the elderly painter, her first show in Paris seems ages ago.
對這位年邁的畫家來說,她在巴黎的首次個展彷彿是多年前的事了。
Those quiet evenings by the river feel impossibly long ago now.
那些在河邊度過的安靜夜晚,如今感覺已是無比久遠。
文法句型
[time noun phrase] + ago (predicative)
用法筆記
Rare and largely literary; almost always appears as 'long ago' or 'ages ago' in predicative position after 'be', 'seem', or 'feel'. Most learners should treat 'ago' as adverb-only.