"ago" in presente perfect tense?

Hi, please have a look at these multiple choice questions:

  1. I haven’t had lunch with my mother … a year ago.

A. since
B. -----
C. for
D. during
=> I think the original sentence itself is wrong (“ago” in present perfect tense?) What do you think?

  1. … thinking that he would win the lottery.

A. There was no use
B. It was no point
C. It was no use
D. It was usefulness
=> As for this, I don’t know either as all A, B and C seem to make sense…

Thank you very much.
Nessie.

As I understand it, “ago” is normally not used with the present perfect.

“Ago” is frequently used with the present perfect tense and the word “since”. Since + time + ago states a specific point in the past, and then the present perfect is used to show that the situation still exists and could continue into the future.

“I haven’t played baseball since two years ago, (when I injured my knee).”
“He has been practicing the trumpet since an hour ago.”
“That store has been out of business since three weeks ago.”

It’s correct, and very, very common.

Is it the same in BrEng?

Yes. Search Google with this: “since a year ago” site:.uk and you’ll find ample examples.

OK

Thanks a lot, Jamie and Molly :P:)

[quote=“Jamie (K)”]
“Ago” is frequently used with the present perfect tense and the word “since”. Since + time + ago states a specific point in the past, and then the present perfect is used to show that the situation still exists and could continue into the future.
quote]

What about this, Jamie?
“Since a long time ago” (“a long time” is not really a specific point, is it? :P)

Many thanks once again.
Nessie :slight_smile:

Hi Nessie

I might describe ‘a long time ago’ this way:

‘A long time ago’ refers to a specific time in the past, but exactly when it was is not specifically identified by the phrase itself.
8)
.

:roll: :roll: :roll:

Hi Nessie

This is also a specific time in the past even though I do no say specifically when it was: “the day I was born”
.