Example: Simon bought his new PS3 video system a while ago.
Do you think of the phrase "A while ago" as time being passed in moderate or short times , or both?
thanks!
2007-08-30 10:44:15 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
This isn't a trick question by the way. I just wanted your opinions about what you think of that term.
Someone wanted to me ask what others think of this term, and I just did. (:
2007-08-30 11:28:30 · update #1
Its a deceptive term meant to avoid being pinned down.
"George! The sink is full of dirty dishes"
"I just did 'em"
"When?"
"Uh I don' know... a while ago."
"Hey dad yer so smart, you know everything huh? When did the dinosaurs roam the Earth?"
"Oh, I, er,... quite a while ago"
"Wow!"
2007-08-30 11:10:26 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The tern a while ago has been around for a long long long long time and means just that... not yesterday or last week or even last month but a (long while ago) month or more... I am 70 and I have used it many times i.e. my son bought his pick up truck a while ago meaning more then a month... Now if you put quite before it and say quite a while ago then thats like 6 monthes or more.... Hope this easees your thoughs... Grant M in Pennsylvania
2007-08-30 18:49:08 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it's not very specific. I think it depends on the context of the rest of the story, or the speaker's tone of voice.
If the next sentence is "He's extremely pleased with it. He's the envy of all the kids on the block," then perhaps awhile ago wasn't very long.
If the next sentence is "He's due for the latest model, don't you think?" then perhaps awhile ago was a long while ago.
2007-08-30 18:57:10 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
moderate
if the sentence was: "Simon HAD bought his new PS3 video system a while ago." then I would say short time.
Using "a while ago" in the preterite means a moderate time;
Using "a while ago" in the past perfect (had) would signal a shorter period of time.
2007-08-30 17:56:02 · answer #4 · answered by Elk n' Fresh 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I think a while ago is a general statement that does not really tell any amount of time. You can say you bought the shirt a while ago and mean one month ago or one year ago.
2007-08-30 17:53:23 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
The phrase is awhile ago. It is all one word. It is an adverb of time and place. A short indeterminate time.
You could say , "I ate breakfast awhile ago".
or
"I ate breakfast a short while ago."
2007-08-30 18:40:15 · answer #6 · answered by yancychipper 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That phrase "A while ago" is vague. It could mean a few hours ago, a few days ago, a few weeks ago, months, years, etc..
2007-08-30 17:58:52 · answer #7 · answered by slobberknocker_usa 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
moderate
2007-08-30 17:51:29 · answer #8 · answered by Xiomy 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
agree with first answer
2007-08-30 17:55:09 · answer #9 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋