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ESL forum > Grammar and Linguistics > blank!!!!    

blank!!!!



olaola
Italy

blank!!!!
 
Sorry my brain is out of order...
is it possible to say  "Until 20 years ago...."?????
 
thanks for your help!

25 May 2011      





MJ_Misa
Czech Republic

Yes, it is.

25 May 2011     



danielr.
Mexico

No , it is not correct to say that, you have to say since 20 years ago

25 May 2011     



Olindalima ( F )
Portugal

Hi

Not sure, sounds a little weird.

What about " for the last 20 years " ?

25 May 2011     



olaola
Italy

the sentence is Until 20 years ago, smoking was considered fashionable and glamorous....

25 May 2011     



Olindalima ( F )
Portugal

Well

It would be necessary to change the verb, to a Pres. Perf

For the last 20 years smoking has been considered...

Let �s wait for our native teachers

25 May 2011     



graace
Venezuela

Yes you can use until 20 years ago, because we are talking about the time before 20 years ago, not the 20 years since.

So this s fine.

Until 20 years ago
, smoking was considered fashionable and glamorous....


Its like saying

Until 1991, smoking... etc


25 May 2011     



olaola
Italy

thanks!!!!!

25 May 2011     



yanogator
United States

Olaola is correct. You can say "Until 20 years ago, smoking was considered fashionable and glamorous."
 
Linda, your suggestions are the opposite. Olaola �s sentence is saying that it stopped being fashionable 20 years ago (although it was actually longer ago than that).
 
Bruce

25 May 2011     



Olindalima ( F )
Portugal

Hi Bruce

I guess you are right, of course. Smoking has been being banned slowly in my country, so I didn �t realize the sentence that way. A few years ago, here, smoking everywhere was quite normal, so I didn �t understand it clearly.

Thanks for calling my attention to that point, otherwise I would be convinced that my sentence was right.

Cheers

Linda

25 May 2011     



yanogator
United States

Linda,
At least your sentence was right for what you were trying to say.
 
Bruce

25 May 2011     

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