How long ago...?

[Andrónico]

Hello!

1- Please, correct (you can suggest alternative sentences):

-How long ago did you smoke last time?
-How long ago didn't you smoke?
-How long ago have you finished?

2- What is the difference between "trend" and "tendency", "entreat" and "beseech", "boy" and "lad", "archer" and "bowman"?

Thanks.

[plin]

1- Please, correct (you can suggest alternative sentences):

Hi Andrónico,

I am actually expanding the first part of your question for others to comment on. Given the choice, I would rephrase these questions as follows:



-How long ago did you smoke last time? How long did you smoke last time? (one meaning) or, How long ago did you smoke for the last time?


-How long ago didn't you smoke? For how long didn't you smoke? (one meaning) or, How long ago did you stop smoking?


-How long ago have you finished? How long ago did you finish?


Plin

[Temico]

Hello!

1- Please, correct (you can suggest alternative sentences):

-How long ago did you smoke last time?
-How long ago didn't you smoke?
-How long ago have you finished?

2- What is the difference between "trend" and "tendency", "entreat" and "beseech", "boy" and "lad", "archer" and "bowman"?

Thanks.

1- Please, correct (you can suggest alternative sentences):

-How long ago did you smoke last time?
-How long ago didn't you smoke?
-How long ago have you finished?
"How long ago was it since you last smoked?" is the most common way of asking this question.

[ponpoco256]

"How long ago was it since you last smoked?" is the most common way of asking this question.
"How long has it been since you last smoked?" :)

ponpoco

[Rusty]

-How long ago did you smoke last time? How long did you smoke last time? (one meaning) or, How long ago did you smoke for the last time?

-How long ago didn't you smoke? For how long didn't you smoke? (one meaning) or, How long ago did you stop smoking?

-How long ago have you finished? How long ago did you finish?


How long ago did you smoke last time? How long did you smoke last time? (one meaning) -- (No. The word ago makes a difference).

or, How long ago did you smoke for the last time? (This is the right interpretation).

-How long ago didn't you smoke? (This is asking how long ago you were a non-smoker).
For how long didn't you smoke? (one meaning) (This asks for how long a period were you a non-smoker).
or, How long ago did you stop smoking? (This is not the same).

-How long ago have you finished? (No. "Ago" places the time in the past. The present perfect have finished does not work with a definite point of time in the past).
How long ago did you finish? (Right).


Originally Posted by Temico
"How long ago was it since you last smoked?" is the most common way of asking this question.
"How long has it been since you last smoked"
Also, "How long ago was it that you last smoked."

[ponpoco256]

2- What is the difference between "trend" and "tendency", "entreat" and "beseech", "boy" and "lad", "archer" and "bowman"?
"Trend" and "tendency" can overlap in usage. But "trend" is used when you speak about a person's attitude.
The trend toward to globalization is visible in every field of economic activity.
The tendency toward to globalization is visible in every field of human activity.
He has a trend toward exaggeration. (??)
He has a tendency toward exaggeration.

"Entreat" and "beseech" can be interchangeably used to mean "eagerly request/ask for"
She entreated/beseeched us for help.
She entreated/beseeched us to help.

"Boy" and "lad" commonly mean "young man". You can use "old boy" for "graduate of a school" (EX) He is an old boy of Ponpoco College. But I hardly heard someone say "old lad".

"Bowman" and "archer" are synonymous.

ponpoco

[plin]

>How long ago did you smoke last time? How long did you smoke last time? (one meaning) -- (No. The word ago makes a difference).

>or, How long ago did you smoke for the last time? (This is the right interpretation).




Hello Rusty,


I guess I should have explained better myself. I was trying to point out that using "ago" gives one meaning; not using it, gives another. So, the question "How long did you smoke last time" is simply asking, how much time you smoked the last time you did it. If this is the sense intended, the question can stand on its own, can't it? Thanks.





Plin.

[Rusty]

I guess I should have explained better myself. I was trying to point out that using "ago" gives one meaning; not using it, gives another. So, the question "How long did you smoke last time" is simply asking, how much time you smoked the last time you did it. If this is the sense intended, the question can stand on its own, can't it? Thanks.
Let's look at it again.
>How long ago did you smoke last time? How long did you smoke last time? (one meaning) -- (No. The word ago makes a difference).

>or, How long ago did you smoke for the last time? (This is the right interpretation).
1) How long ago did you smoke last time? (I think we agree that this one is wrong).
2) How long did you smoke last time?
3) How long did you smoke the last time? (2 and 3 are the same. The context would tell you whether we are talking about a period of months/years or if it was a contest that lasted for hours).
4) How long ago did you smoke for the last time? (This asks the date of your final cigarette before you gave up smoking).

[plin]

<<1) How long ago did you smoke last time? (I think we agree that this one is wrong).
2) How long did you smoke last time?
3) How long did you smoke the last time? (2 and 3 are the same. The context would tell you whether we are talking about a period of months/years or if it was a contest that lasted for hours).
4) How long ago did you smoke for the last time? (This asks the date of your final cigarette before you gave up smoking).>>




No disagreement here, after all. Thanks a lot, Rusty.


Plin.