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| Date: | 1400-1500 |
| Origin: | From the past participle of ago 'to pass away' (11-17 centuries), from Old English agan, from gan 'to go' |
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a‧go S1 W1
long ago/a long time ago 
He should have finished at university long ago, but he kept taking extra courses.
He should have finished at university long ago, but he kept taking extra courses.We had our bicentenary celebrations not that long ago.WORD CHOICE: WORD CHOICE: 
ago, before, previously Use ago to say how much time has passed from the time something happened to now, the time of speaking • I saw her a few minutes ago. • We went to Madrid two years ago. Use before to say how much time passed from the time something happened to a time in the past • We went to the same hotel where we stayed two years before.Previously is used in the same way, but is more formal • The meeting was a follow-up to one that had been held four days previously.GRAMMAR!! Do not use a preposition ('at', 'in', 'on' etc) before a phrase with ago • They first met fifteen years ago (NOT at/in fifteen years ago).!! Do not use 'since' or 'before' with ago • I came to the USA two months ago (NOT since/before two months ago).!! Use the past tense, not the present perfect, with ago • I started (NOT I've started) a new job a few weeks ago.
WORD CHOICE: ago, before, previously Use ago to say how much time has passed from the time something happened to now, the time of speaking • I saw her a few minutes ago. • We went to Madrid two years ago. Use before to say how much time passed from the time something happened to a time in the past • We went to the same hotel where we stayed two years before.Previously is used in the same way, but is more formal • The meeting was a follow-up to one that had been held four days previously.GRAMMAR!! Do not use a preposition ('at', 'in', 'on' etc) before a phrase with ago • They first met fifteen years ago (NOT at/in fifteen years ago).!! Do not use 'since' or 'before' with ago • I came to the USA two months ago (NOT since/before two months ago).!! Use the past tense, not the present perfect, with ago • I started (NOT I've started) a new job a few weeks ago.
