[Grammar] difference between AGO & BEFORE

[junaid chithari]

Hello
I want to know the difference between AGO & BEFORE
a. I met my friend 2 days AGO.
b. I met my friend 2 days BEFORE.
Which one is true from the above and why?
Please explain..
Thank you..

 

[emsr2d2]

a) is correct if you mean "before today". (We don't say "before today" in this context").

If you say "I met my friend two days before ..." you need to specify "before what/when".

I met my friend two days before my birthday.
I met my friend two days before he emigrated to Australia.

 

[baghyan.nune]

Ago - used to express the passage of time that passed; or before the present time. For example, when we say that something happened two years ago, i.e it is two years since it happened.
Before - will not work here, because ''before'' means ''during a period of time preceding (OxfordDict)'' or ''something happens before a particular date". In this meaning the particular date must be mentioned, for example "I read the article before dinner".

 

[emsr2d2]

Ago - used to express the passage of time that passed; or before the present time. For example, when we say that [strike]smth[/strike] something happened two years ago, i.e it is two years since it happened.
Before - will not work here, because ''before'' means ''during a period of time preceding (OxfordDict)'' or ''[strike]smth[/strike] something [strike]happenes[/strike] happens before a particular date". In this meaning, the particular date must be mentioned, for example "I read the article before dinner".

baghyan.nune, it is commendable that you wish to help other learners. However, as you can see, there were errors in your post. In addition, the forum guidelines state that you must start your posts with "Not a teacher" if you are answering another learner's question.

 

[junaid chithari]

Thanks a lot dear friends

 

[5jj]

The particular date need not be specified in the same sentence as 'before: I saw Alan in Ingolstadt last year. I had previously seen him three years before.

Here, we understand that 'before' means 'before last year', but there is no need to state it.