years ago

Meaning

Used to indicate a time measured in years before the present moment. It helps speakers specify that an event occurred many years in the past without needing to state the exact calendar year.

Examples

• We visited Paris years ago, but I still remember how beautiful it was.

  We visited Paris years ago, but I still remember how beautiful it was.

• My parents bought this house twenty years ago when they got married.

  My parents bought this house twenty years ago when they got married.

• I stopped eating fast food years ago for health reasons.

  I stopped eating fast food years ago for health reasons.

• She graduated from university years ago and now runs her own business.

  She graduated from university years ago and now runs her own business.

• That song was a huge hit years ago, but people still dance to it.

  That song was a huge hit years ago, but people still dance to it.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I lived there since years ago.

  ✓ I lived there years ago.

  'Years ago' is a past time marker used with the past simple. 'Since' requires a starting point in time combined with the present perfect tense.

• ✗ He left the company before three years ago.

  ✓ He left the company three years ago.

  Do not use 'before' directly with 'years ago' to express a duration of time before now; 'three years ago' already means three years before the present.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I used to play soccer ___ when I was still in school.

  💡 Many years in the past

  Show answer

  years ago

• We first met ___ at a summer camp.

  💡 A long time back, measured in years

  Show answer

  years ago