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Teacher answers + listening script

How Long Ago?

A2 · Ago + past simple · 10 panels · 50–60 minutes

Original English Drills lesson. Listening uses a teacher-read script. Student print format: two A4 landscape sides.

1. Warmer

Two weeks ago is before now on a timeline

Goal: Say how long before now something happened.

When did you last phone a friend? Eat breakfast? Take a bus?

Try: I phoned a friend two days ago.

2. Time expressions

Match the time expressions.

1. 60 minutes ago
2. 24 hours ago
3. seven days ago
4. 12 months ago

A. a year ago
B. a week ago
C. an hour ago
D. a day ago

1 ___ 2 ___ 3 ___ 4 ___

Say each expression to a partner.

3. Reading

My name is Hana. I arrived in Christchurch six weeks ago. Five weeks ago, I started an English course. I felt nervous on my first day, but I met a friendly classmate. Her name is Mia. We became friends quickly. Two weeks ago, we visited the Botanic Gardens. We took photos and ate lunch outside. I bought a new notebook three days ago. Yesterday, I wrote about our visit in it. I did not write in Japanese. I wrote in English! An hour ago, I sent a photo to my family. They liked it.

4. Comprehension

Answer using the reading.

  1. How long ago did Hana arrive?
  2. How long ago did she start her course?
  3. What did she buy three days ago?
  4. Did she write in Japanese yesterday?

5. Grammar focus

Ago means “before now”. Put it after the time period.

I arrived six weeks ago.
She was here an hour ago.

Question: How long ago did you arrive?
Negative: I didn’t arrive yesterday.

After did/didn’t, use the base verb.

✓ I saw her two days ago.
✗ I have seen her two days ago.

6. Guided practice

Use the past simple. Add ago in the final gap.

  1. I ___ (meet) Mia a week ___.
  2. We ___ (visit) the gardens two days ___.
  3. She ___ (buy) a notebook an hour ___.
  4. They ___ (be) here a month ___.

Complete the question and negative.

  1. How long ago ___ you ___ (start) school?
  2. I ___ (not / see) Mia two days ago.

How Long Ago? — continued

7. Listening

Your teacher will read a short text twice. Complete the notes.

  1. Arrived in New Zealand: ___ ago.
  2. Started school: ___ ago.
  3. Bought a bike: ___ ago.
  4. Rode to the park: ___ ago.
  5. Phoned his sister: ___ ago.

Compare your answers with a partner.

8. Speaking

Ask a partner How long ago did you…?

  1. eat breakfast
  2. watch a film
  3. phone a friend
  4. buy something

Answer: I ate breakfast two hours ago.

Ask one follow-up question: What did you eat?

You may invent an answer.

9. Grammar detective

Correct one mistake in each sentence.

  1. I have met Mia two weeks ago.
  2. She arrived ago three days.
  3. How long ago did you bought it?
  4. We didn’t went there a week ago.

10. Writing and reflection

Write five sentences about your life or an imaginary person. Use ago in at least three sentences. Include one negative.

Exit check: I ___ (see) Mia two days ___. How long ago did you ___ (meet) her?

□ I can put ago after a time period. □ I can ask and answer “How long ago…?”

How Long Ago? — Teacher Answers

A2 · Ago + past simple · 50–60 minutes

1. Warmer

Model an answer and point to the timeline. Personal answers vary. Ago counts backwards from now.

2. Time expressions

1–C; 2–D; 3–B; 4–A. For this activity, use the everyday equivalents given.

3–4. Reading and comprehension

  1. Six weeks ago.
  2. Five weeks ago.
  3. A new notebook.
  4. No, she didn’t. She wrote in English.

5–6. Grammar and guided practice

  1. met; ago
  2. visited; ago
  3. bought; ago
  4. were; ago
  5. did; start
  6. did not see / didn’t see

Emphasise time period + ago, and base verbs after did/didn’t. For be, use was/were: How long ago were you there? Explain the present perfect only as needed to correct the model error.

7. Teacher-read listening script

Read twice at a clear, natural pace. Pause between readings so learners can compare notes.

My name is Leo. I arrived in New Zealand three months ago. I started school two months ago. I bought a bike a week ago. Two days ago, I rode it to the park with a friend. An hour ago, I phoned my sister. I told her about my new bike.
  1. three months
  2. two months
  3. a week / one week
  4. two days
  5. an hour / one hour

8. Speaking

Answers vary. Accept sensible approximate times. Monitor did + base verb in questions and past verbs in answers. Do not require learners to share personal information.

9. Grammar detective

  1. I met Mia two weeks ago.
  2. She arrived three days ago.
  3. How long ago did you buy it?
  4. We didn’t go there a week ago.

10. Writing and reflection

Check five complete sentences, ago in at least three, and one negative. Sample: I moved here a year ago. I started school six months ago. I met my friend two weeks ago. I didn’t go out yesterday. I watched a film last night.

Exit answers: saw; ago; meet.

Timing and support

Warmer/vocabulary 8 min; reading/comprehension 10; grammar/practice 12; listening 7; speaking/detective 10; writing/reflection 8. Support: give a verb bank (met, visited, bought, were) and the question frame. Extension: add a follow-up question and retell your partner’s answers. Ago is usually practised with past simple at A2; other past forms are possible in wider contexts.

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