about a week ago

Meaning

This phrase is used to refer to an event that happened approximately seven days in the past. It is a casual, approximate time marker used when the exact day or time is not important to the conversation. It is neutral in tone and very common in everyday spoken English.

Examples

• I ran into Sarah at the grocery store about a week ago.

  I ran into Sarah at the grocery store about a week ago.

• About a week ago, my computer started making a strange noise.

  About a week ago, my computer started making a strange noise.

• We ordered the new couch about a week ago, so it should arrive soon.

  We ordered the new couch about a week ago, so it should arrive soon.

• I think they finished painting the house about a week ago.

  I think they finished painting the house about a week ago.

• He sent me an email about a week ago but I forgot to reply.

  He sent me an email about a week ago but I forgot to reply.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I saw him before a week.

  ✓ I saw him about a week ago.

  English uses 'ago' to count backward from the present moment. 'Before' is used to relate two past events to each other, not to count back from now.

• ✗ It happened about one week past.

  ✓ It happened about a week ago.

  While 'past' is technically understood, 'ago' is the standard, natural, and idiomatic way to express time elapsed from the present.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I bought these shoes ___ and they are already falling apart.

  💡 Approximately seven days in the past.

  Show answer

  about a week ago

• ___, the company announced some major changes to our health insurance plan.

  💡 Capitalize the first letter; means roughly seven days in the past.

  Show answer

  About a week ago