Ago vs. before: what’s the difference?
The short answer
Ago is used to denote how much time has passed from the present moment, often with a specific time period. Before is used to indicate that an event occurred earlier than a specific point in time or another event, which can be in the past, present, or future.
What they have in common
Both ago and before are adverbs that relate to time, indicating that an event or action took place earlier than a reference point. They help position events in the past relative to another point in time.
Examples
ago
- She moved here three years ago.
- I finished my homework an hour ago.
before
- I had never traveled by plane before last year.
- Please wash your hands before eating.
Which one is more common?
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