Ago, Since --- Let's clear our doubts

By Ranjana S.

Let's clear our doubts

• It is only five years since I last saw her------------ :-) correct.
• It was only five years ago that I last saw her------------- :-) correct.

Both are correct.

Now, should we reverse the sentences?

• It is only five years ago that I last saw her-------------- :( incorrect.
• It was only five years since I last saw her ----------- :( incorrect.

So, when do we use 'ago' and ' since’?

When the sentence has two clauses like this, and is looked at from the present tense, ago has to be preceded by the simple past tense (was), and since by the present or present perfect tense (is, has been). Furthermore, ago is followed by that, whereas since is not (ago is an adverb, and the conjunction that is required to join the clauses ;since already serves as a conjunction in the aforementioned illustrations, and needs no further conjunction to link the clauses.

A prevalent error is to use 'ago' and 'since' side by side:

It was only two years ago since he dumped her------------- :( incorrect

• I have been here since four years ago. ------------- :( incorrect
• Here, you will point out that no grammar rule has been violated, but it does sound absurd, and the following will be preferred:I have been here for four years.