Yesterday, last week, ago
Say when things happened with yesterday, last week, ago, in 2019, when I was young and more.
In this lesson you will
- Use past time expressions correctly
- Use ago and last correctly
- Put time expressions in the right place
Learn
Yesterday (morning/afternoon/evening), last night/week/month/year/Monday: I saw her last Friday. (No the, no on.)
…ago counts back from now: two days ago, ten minutes ago, a long time ago. Ago goes after the time period.
in + year/month (in 2019, in May), on + day/date (on Tuesday, on 3 March), at + time (at six o’clock), when + clause (when I was a child).
Time expressions usually go at the end of a sentence, or at the beginning for emphasis: Last year, we moved to Lima.
Examples
- I started this job three months ago.
- We moved here in 2021.
- She called me last night.
- When I was ten, I lived in a village.
Vocabulary
ago
before now
“two weeks ago”
last
the one before this
“last summer”
the day before yesterday
two days ago
recently
not long ago
once
one time; at some time in the past
Practice
I met him three years ___.
Speaking
Tell your life story in six sentences using time expressions: I was born in…, When I was…, … years ago, last year…
Writing
Write a timeline of your life (6–8 sentences) with a different time expression in each.
Lesson quiz
I called you an hour ___.
Review
Key points
- yesterday / last + time / time + ago.
- in + year/month; on + day/date; at + clock time.
- Time phrases at the end (or start for emphasis).
What you learned
- ✓ I can say when things happened.
- ✓ I can use ago and last.
- ✓ I can use in/on/at with past times.
Grammar reference: Past simple, Prepositions of time: in, on, at