After a time, means ago. Here it never changes: , two months ago · , three months ago · . The verb is in the past tense, because it happened and is over: I came to Malta three months ago. Compare , I've been here three months: the same time, but still going on.
Ago: the time and
| Time | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ten minutes ago | |
| ten minutes ago | |
| two days ago | |
| two days ago | |
| two weeks ago | |
| two weeks ago | |
| two months ago | |
| two months ago | |
| three months ago | |
| three months ago | |
| two years ago | |
| two years ago | |
Two is the dual in -ejn, as in , twice: never with these words.
Marija poġġiet il-bagalja tiegħi fil-kamra tal-bejt tliet xhur ilu.Marija put my suitcase in the room on the roof three months ago.
Marija poġġiet il-bagalja tiegħi fil-kamra tal-bejt tliet xhur ilu.Marija put my suitcase in the room on the roof three months ago.
U għamilt il-mappa xahrejn ilu!And I made the map two months ago!
Last and next come after the noun, like an adjective, and take its gender and its article. Last is the other one: , or for a feminine noun. Next is the one coming in: , or . , a week, and , a year, are feminine; , a month, and are masculine. A day can also be , that has passed: , last Monday.
Last and next
| Noun | Last | Next | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Masculine | |||
| the month · last month · next month | |||
| the month · last month · next month | |||
| Saturday · last Saturday · next Saturday | |||
| Saturday · last Saturday · next Saturday | |||
| Feminine | |||
| the week · last week · next week | |||
| the week · last week · next week | |||
| the year · last year · next year | |||
| the year · last year · next year | |||
After a vowel the article loses its : .
Before, now, after
| Before | Now | After | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| yesterday · today · tomorrow | |||
| yesterday · today · tomorrow | |||
| last week · this week · next week | |||
| last week · this week · next week | |||
| two months ago · now · soon | |||
| two months ago · now · soon | |||
In-nanna tgħid li se titlaq dalwaqt, ix-xahar id-dieħel.Grandma says you're leaving soon, next month.
Il-pinna ta' Tonio sparixxiet il-ġimgħa l-oħra!Tonio's pen went missing last week!
Is-sena l-oħra Ċikku raqad fuq it-tanbur.Last year Ċikku slept on the drum.
Practice 1/5 · Finding words
Find the words
Tap the words that say when: ago, last, next.
.
Marija put the suitcase here three months ago.
.
Marija put the suitcase here three months ago.
!
And I made the map two months ago!
!
Tonio's pen went missing last week!
.
Grandma says you're leaving next month.
.
The office mouse went missing two weeks ago.
!
Next year I'll be eleven!
Practice 2/5 · The right form
Ago or for?
Choose the form that fits.
Ġejt Malta tliet xhur .
I came to Malta three months ago.
Ġejt Malta tliet xhur .
I came to Malta three months ago.
Jien hawn tliet xhur.
I've been here for three months.
Jien hawn tliet xhur.
I've been here for three months.
Għamilt il-mappa ilu.
I made the map two months ago.
Il-ġurdien sparixxa ilu.
The mouse went missing two weeks ago.
Ċempilt lil Anna ilu.
I called Anna two days ago.
Ċempilt lil Anna ilu.
I called Anna two days ago.
ilu Ella kellha tmien snin.
Two years ago Ella was eight.
Last or next?
Choose the form that fits the noun.
Il-pinna ta' Tonio sparixxiet il-ġimgħa .
Tonio's pen went missing last week.
In-nanna tgħid li se titlaq ix-xahar .
Grandma says you're leaving next month.
Ix-xahar Lina għamlet kejk kbir.
Last month Lina made a big cake.
Il-ġimgħa nibda xogħol ġdid?
Am I starting a new job next week?
Il-ġimgħa nibda xogħol ġdid?
Am I starting a new job next week?
Is-sena Ċikku raqad fuq it-tanbur.
Last year Ċikku slept on the drum.
Is-sena Ella se jkollha ħdax-il sena.
Next year Ella will be eleven.
Is-Sibt nagħmel imqarrun il-forn.
Next Saturday I'll make baked macaroni.
It-Tnejn kont il-Belt.
Last Monday I was in Valletta.
It-Tnejn kont il-Belt.
Last Monday I was in Valletta.
Practice 3/5 · Fill the gaps
In the room on the roof
Fill the gaps with the words from the box.
Marija poġġiet il-bagalja tiegħi hawn tliet xhur .
Marija put my suitcase up here three months ago.
Marija poġġiet il-bagalja tiegħi hawn tliet xhur .
Marija put my suitcase up here three months ago.
U għamilt il-mappa ilu!
And I made the map two months ago!
Il-pinna ta' Tonio sparixxiet il-ġimgħa .
Tonio's pen went missing last week.
In-nanna tgħid li se titlaq ix-xahar . Veru?
Grandma says you're leaving next month. Is it true?
Il-ġurdien tal-uffiċċju sparixxa ilu.
The office mouse went missing two weeks ago.
It-termometru tiegħi sparixxa xahrejn ilu, meta int .
My thermometer went missing two months ago, when you were ill.
It-termometru tiegħi sparixxa xahrejn ilu, meta int .
My thermometer went missing two months ago, when you were ill.
Is-sena se jkolli ħdax-il sena!
Next year I'll be eleven!
irrid inwieġeb, mhux .
I have to answer today, not tomorrow.
irrid inwieġeb, mhux .
I have to answer today, not tomorrow.
Practice 4/5 · Building sentences
Put the words in order
Put the words in order.
I came to Malta three months ago.
I came to Malta three months ago.
I made the map two months ago.
The pen went missing last week.
Next year Ella will be eleven.
Next Saturday I'll make baked macaroni.
Last month Lina made a big cake.
I called Anna two days ago.
I called Anna two days ago.
The mouse went missing two weeks ago.
Two years ago Ella was eight.
Practice 5/5 · In situations
The right words
Choose the right words for the situation.
Ella asks when Marija put your suitcase up here. It was three months ago.
You say:
Ago is the time and ilu. Ilni tliet xhur is I've been (here) three months.
Ella asks when Marija put your suitcase up here. It was three months ago.
You say:
Ago is the time and ilu. Ilni tliet xhur is I've been (here) three months.
Tell Lucía you can start next month.
You say:
Tell Lucía you can start next month.
You say:
Ella tells you when Tonio's pen went missing.
Ella says:
Say that you'll go to Gozo with Anna soon.
You say:
Say that you'll go to Gozo with Anna soon.
You say:
Ella tells you how old she'll be next year.
Ella says:
Unit complete
