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How many years ago? vs How long ago?

Both "how many years ago?" and "how long ago?" are correct and commonly used phrases in English. They are used to inquire about the amount of time that has passed since a specific event. The choice between the two depends on the context and the specific time frame.
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Explained by Jennifer
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Last updated: August 08, 2024 • 35003 views

How many years ago?

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to inquire about the number of years that have passed since a specific event.

This phrase is used when asking about the specific number of years that have elapsed since a particular event occurred.

Examples:

  • How many years ago did you graduate from college?
  • How many years ago did they move to this city?
  • How many years ago was the last time you saw her?
  • How many years ago did the accident happen?
  • How many years ago did you start working here?
  • Apr 6, 2023 ... How many years ago was the Fall of Gilneas? Lore Question. Trying to see what age my character would have fled at. Upvote 9. Downvote
  • May 21, 2021 ... Wait a moment and try again. Try again. Open in App. Sign In. How many years ago would you consider recent? All related (61). Recommended.
  • Aug 6, 2021 ... How many years ago (at least, approximately) was 1E 700 as of 4E 201? Can swear I saw a reference for this somewhere, but can't find it. If ...
  • Mar 9, 2015 ... If you want to see how many years ago a historical event happened, you do the following: If the event is AD/CE, you extract the date from the ...
  • May 8, 2011 ... "And why can't I say how many years ago..." I just could not answer... Is there any grammarian explaining this, or any rule to follow? Thank you ...
  • Apr 24, 2020 ... Wait a moment and try again. Try again. Open in App. Sign In. How many years ago was the Bible written? All related (98). Recommended.
  • Dec 26, 2014 ... Sally is 54 years old and her mother is 80, how many years ago was Sally's mother three times her age?
  • Oct 25, 2014 ... How many years ago did Mahabharat happen? All related (100+).
  • Do you know how many years ago my album, “Hypnotize the Moon,” was released? This week we celebrate the anniversary of the platinum-selling record and...
  • capcha: Sesquicentennial + 10 = ______ (or how many years ago did Hoboken first elect a Mayor?) clickener_20140520001-2 1855 lithograph of Hoboken's first Mayor ...

Alternatives:

  • How many years have passed since?
  • How many years have gone by since?
  • How many years have elapsed since?
  • How many years has it been since?
  • How many years ago was it?

How long ago?

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to inquire about the amount of time that has passed since a specific event.

This phrase is used when asking about the general amount of time that has elapsed since a particular event occurred, without specifying the exact number of years, months, etc.

Examples:

  • How long ago did you last see him?
  • How long ago did they move to this neighborhood?
  • How long ago was the last time you visited that place?
  • How long ago did the meeting take place?
  • How long ago did you start learning English?
  • Welcome to Howlongagogo.com - find out exactly how long ago a date was and countdown to future events!
  • Feb 9, 2024 ... I've always loved this game but after rediscovering not too long ago I began thinking, just how long ago did the hunt begin? how long did ...
  • Feb 27, 2018 ... In a text field I'm trying to calculate how long ago a Created Date for a thing was from NOW. If less than 24 hours ago I'd like it to show hours (rounded).
  • Jun 30, 2023 ... How long ago did Hollownest fall? Lore. I mean look at all the characters that survived the infection. It's not like Hollownest is ancient ...
  • How long ago did smallpox virus emerge? Arch Virol. 2009;154(12):1865-71. doi: 10.1007/s00705-009-0536-0. Epub 2009 Oct 31. Author. Sergei N Shchelkunov ...
  • Apr 11, 2021 ... How long ago were the Nomai, in Earth time? ... Just a shower thought that came to me. I think from the computer on the sun station, you learn ...
  • Dec 29, 2011 ... How long ago did the "Sacking of Coruscant" take place? How long ago did the "Sacking of Coruscant" take place? Terin. By Terin December 29 ...
  • Aug 30, 2023 ... I haven't looked into anything with trying to understand how long ago the ECID was created... this sounds like something that might require ...
  • How long ago were you diagnosed with cancer? (WhenDiagnosedCancer Age Recode) | HINTS.
  • Sep 13, 2024 ... I am not sure how long ago it was but I was in Zanzibar for a beautiful wedding, and on the morning of the ceremony, the Groom, ...

Alternatives:

  • How much time has passed since?
  • How much time has gone by since?
  • How much time has elapsed since?
  • How long has it been since?
  • How long ago was it?

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