1. used to indicate how much time has passed since something happened
表示某事發生到現在已經過去了多少時間
I saw her a few minutes ago.
我幾分鐘前看到過她。
He left the company two years ago.
他兩年前離開了那家公司。
Ago Meaning（定義、用法、例句與發音）
ago
adverb
快速理解
What does "Ago" mean?What are 2-3 core uses of "Ago"?
用於表示某事發生在過去某個時間點之前。
- 1
時間距離
EN: Indicates how much time has passed since an event occurred.
翻譯: 表示某事件發生後到現在經過了多少時間。
- 2
搭配時間單位
EN: Used with a time expression (e.g., two days ago, a long time ago).
翻譯: 與時間單位搭配使用（例如：兩天前、很久以前）。
- 3
過去參照點
EN: Refers to a point in the past from the present moment.
翻譯: 指從現在這個時刻往回推算的過去時間點。
小提醒：注意詞序：時間長度 + ago（例如：three years ago），與中文的『三年前』詞序不同。
發音（How to Pronounce "Ago" in English）
How to pronounce "Ago" in English?"Ago" US vs UK pronunciation
點擊下方的 US / UK 按鈕可播放發音。
Real-life Examples of "Ago" from YouTube Videos
Why is social media actually dumb.
meiqiii
“one of the main reasons why I deleted Tik Tok, actually two years ago, was the fact that I would scroll on it for like one or two hours and then like sound effects would just be repeating in my head, seriously like I would hear like the same, like exact music in my head, like when I was opening the fridge getting I was like this is so [ __ ] annoying, like literally the same sounds are being pushed to you, the same exact ideas.”
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Definitions（定義）
What are the definitions of "Ago"?How does "Ago" change by context?
2. in the past; before now
在過去；以前
Long ago, people believed the earth was flat.
很久以前，人們相信地球是平的。
That seems like a lifetime ago.
那感覺像是上輩子的事了。
3. used after a period of time to mean 'before the present time'
用於一段時間之後，表示『在現在之前』
The meeting was scheduled for 10 a.m., but it started half an hour ago.
會議原定上午十點開始，但它在半小時前就開始了。
How long ago did you arrive?
你多久前到的？
Grammar & Patterns（句型）
What are common sentence patterns for "Ago"?How to make natural sentences with "Ago"?
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| `[time period] + ago` | 表示從現在算起，在過去某個時間點。 | I saw her two weeks ago. (我兩週前見過她。) |
| `long ago` | 很久以前。 | That happened long ago. (那件事發生在很久以前。) |
| `a while ago` | 不久前，剛才。 | He left the office a while ago. (他不久前離開了辦公室。) |
| `not long ago` | 不久前。 | We met not long ago at a conference. (我們不久前在一次會議上見過。) |
| `just a moment ago` | 剛剛，片刻之前。 | She was here just a moment ago. (她剛剛還在這裡。) |
用法說明
How is "Ago" different from similar structures?What usage mistakes are common with "Ago"?
ago 與 since 的區別
- ago 是一個表示「從現在算起，多久以前」的副詞，它描述的是一個「過去時間點」。句子時態通常為過去式。
- since 則是一個表示「從過去某個時間點開始，持續到現在（或另一個過去時間）」的介系詞或連接詞，它描述的是一個「時間段」的起點。主句時態通常為完成式。
- 簡單來說，ago 回答「何時發生的？」；since 回答「從何時開始的？」。
對比例句： EN: She moved to London three years ago. 翻譯: 她三年前搬到了倫敦。
EN:She has lived in London since 2021.
翻譯:她從 2021 年起就住在倫敦。
EN:The meeting started ten minutes ago.
翻譯:會議十分鐘前開始了。
EN:I have been waiting here since 9 o'clock.
翻譯:我從九點鐘就在這裡等了。
總結建議
使用 ago 時，請將它與「一段時間」搭配（如 three days ago），並確保句子主要動詞使用過去式。
易混淆對比
What is the difference between "Ago" and similar words?How to choose "Ago" vs alternatives?
ago vs before
「ago」用於從現在算起的過去時間點，通常與過去式連用；「before」則用於從過去某個時間點算起的更早時間，或泛指「在…之前」。
ago vs since
「ago」表示從現在回溯到過去某個時間點；「since」表示從過去某個時間點開始持續到現在（或另一個過去時間點）。
ago vs earlier
「ago」的時間參照點固定為「現在」；「earlier」的時間參照點較為靈活，可以是「現在」或上下文中的「某個過去時間」。
口語用法
How is "Ago" used in spoken English?What is the spoken vs formal difference for "Ago"?
引述
在口語中，'ago' 常用於引述或重述某個時間點，使對話更自然。 EN: He said he called her a week ago. 翻譯: 他說他一個禮拜前打給她了。
EN:I remember she moved to Taipei two years ago.
翻譯:我記得她兩年前搬到台北了。
語氣強調
為了強調時間的久遠或短暫，說話者可能會拉長 'ago' 的發音或加重語氣。 EN: That was ages ago! 翻譯: 那已經是好久好久以前的事了！
EN:It was just a minute ago, I swear.
翻譯:真的就是一分鐘前的事，我發誓。
停頓填充
在思考或回憶時，'ago' 有時會與 'um', 'like' 等填充詞一起出現，作為停頓的一部分。 EN: It happened... like, three days ago? 翻譯: 事情發生在... 大概三天前？
EN:Um, I think we met a long time ago.
翻譯:嗯，我想我們很久以前見過面。
正式寫作注意：在正式書寫（如學術論文、商業報告）中，應避免上述口語用法，建議使用更精確、結構完整的時間狀語，例如 'previously', 'earlier', 或直接使用具體日期。
常見短語
What common collocations use "Ago"?What fixed phrases with "Ago" should I remember?
long ago
long ago
很久以前
a while ago
a while ago
不久前，剛才
years ago
[number] years ago
幾年前
not long ago
not long ago
不久前
ages ago
ages ago
很久很久以前
some time ago
some time ago
一段時間以前
a moment ago
a moment ago
剛剛，片刻之前
a long time ago
a long time ago
很久以前
常見錯誤
What are common mistakes with "Ago"?Which "Ago" sentences look correct but are wrong?
×I have seen him two days ago.
✓I saw him two days ago.
"ago" 表示從現在算起的過去時間點，必須與簡單過去式連用，不能與現在完成式連用。
×He left ago two hours.
✓He left two hours ago.
時間片語（如 two hours）必須放在 "ago" 前面，順序為「時間 + ago」。
×I will finish the report a week ago.
✓I will finish the report in a week.
"ago" 只能用於描述過去的時間點。描述未來的時間長度應使用 "in"。
×It was happened five minutes ago.
✓It happened five minutes ago.
"ago" 與簡單過去式動詞連用。"happen" 是不及物動詞，不應使用被動語態。
×How long ago did you arrived?
✓How long ago did you arrive?
在疑問句 "How long ago...?" 中，主要動詞應使用原形，因為助動詞 "did" 已經表達了過去時態。
×I met him ago.
✓I met him some time ago. / I met him a while ago.
"ago" 前面必須有一個具體或模糊的時間量詞（如 two days, a long time, a moment），不能單獨使用。
詞形變化
What are the word forms of "Ago"?What are tense/participle forms of "Ago"?