Before

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1
  1. I started working here two years before.
  2. I started working here before two years.
    Which expression is correct?
2

1st one

3

Neither expression is correct, as you cannot use ‘before’ with a period of time in this sense.

I started working here two years ago.
is correct.

4

Mr. Beeesnees,

  1. I had started working here two years before.
  2. I had started working here before two years.
  3. He had arrived three years before.
    Are all OK? I have used past perfect.
    Can I use in present perfect like below:
  4. I have started working here two years before.
5

As above, no, they are not grammatically correct sentences. It’s not because of the tense but because of the meaning of ‘before’. You cannot use ‘before’ in that sense. You need a specific point relating to the two years. (‘now’ is not specific enough)

I had started working here two years before <<>>
examples:
I had started working here two years before the present owners took over.
I had started working here two years before the uprising.

‘ago’ = some time back from the present time.
‘before’ = some time back from a point in time which has now passed.

Please look at the comment here:
a few hours before v.s. a few hours ago

6

Mr. Beeesneees,

  1. Does “I had started working here two years before the uprising.” mean
    “I had started working here for two years before the uprising.” ?
  2. “I had started working here two years”
    Is this sentence correct? What does it mean?
    Should I say “I had started working here for two years.”?
  3. Could I say: “I had started working here before two years.”?
    Thanks
7

  1. It means you had started working there two years before the uprising took place.

  2. The sentence is not correct because it is incomplete.
    You can either use:
    I have worked here for two years
    or
    I have been working here for two years

  3. No, see point 2.
    or
    I had started work(ing) here two years before .

8

Mr. Beeesneees,
“1) It means you had started working there two years before the uprising took place.”
In the above sentence you have omitted preposition ‘for’.
For #2 sentence, you have added the preposition ‘for’ and you stated that without ‘for’ the sentence is wrong.
Can I say: “I have worked here two years” without ‘for’?
Could you explain to me the grammar involved? Thanks.

9

The difference between (1) and (2) is that in (1) you use ‘started’: a specific single point in time. In (2) you use ‘working’: a continuous action over time.
I haven’t “omitted” a preposition from sentence 1. Using ‘for’ there would be incorrect because of the use of ‘to start’ indicating the precise point.

I had started working here / two years before the uprising (took place).
I had worked here / (for) two years before the uprising (took place).
I have worked here / (for) two years.

10

Mr. Beeesneees,
As per your instruction, I should write as below:

  1. I had started working here two years.
  2. I had worked here for two years.
    Am I correct?
  3. In 2004, he told me he had published a book four years before.
    Is this #3 sentence OK?
    Thanks.
11

You are trying to make ‘before’ fit where it DOES NOT FIT.

  1. No. As above: I had started working here two years !
  2. No. I had worked here for two years !
  3. No. ‘ago’ would be used there. Not ‘before’.

‘ago’ = some time back from the present time.
‘before’ = some time back from a point in time which has now passed.