a few moments ago = a few minutes ago?
Or it is shorter than a few minutes?
Thank you.
So, summarising your response and ems's: a moment is longer than a minute, but a few moments is less than a minute?I think it means different things to different people.
It certainly seems to. It's also contextual.
I might say 'a moment ago' (more than I would say 'a few moments ago') if something happened a few minutes ago, for example if I want to emphasise to someone that they just missed seeing someone/something.
"You won't believe who I saw on the other side of the street a moment ago!"
has a greater urgency than:
"You won't believe who I saw on the other side of the street a few minutes ago!"
A few minutes ago is history; a moment ago is still tantalisingly close.
So, summarising your response and ems's: a moment is longer than a minute, but a few moments is less than a minute?![]()