a long time ago = way back?

[Hinata Sama]

Hi, friends.

Please have a look at this sentence.
"I went to USA a long time ago".
I think this sentence is correct and sounds good?

Now, if I say "I went to USA way back", does it still means the same and sound natural?

Please help, thanks.

 

[Rhye]

I believe you must have made a mistake, because your two sentences are identical.

 

[Hinata Sama]

I believe you must have made a mistake, because your two sentences are identical.

Oh, yes. I made a mistake.
I have changed it now.
Please have a look.

 

[sdgraham]

Not quite

First of all, it's the U.S.A. as with most, if not all, initialisms referring to countries.

Secondly, in the construction you use, we would use a date reference, "way back in 1998."

See, for example, way back in

 

[Hinata Sama]

Not quite

First of all, it's the U.S.A. as with most, if not all, initialisms referring to countries.

Secondly, in the construction you use, we would use a date reference, "way back in 1998."

See, for example, way back in

Thanks. Though, I found this idiom 'from way back',
so if I don't want to use a exact date reference,
I must use 'from way back' ? As in 'I went to the US from way back' ?

 

[Florentia52]

Thanks. Though, I found this idiom 'from way back',
so if I don't want to use a exact date reference,
I must use 'from way back' ? As in 'I went to the US from way back' ?

"From way back" refers to a period of time that starts a long time ago and continues until now. For example, "I know her from way back" means that you have known her for many years, possibly for so long that you can't remember when you first met. It's hard to imagine how that concept would fit into your sentence about a visit to the U.S. that started and ended a long time ago.

 

[Hinata Sama]

"From way back" refers to a period of time that starts a long time ago and continues until now. For example, "I know her from way back" means that you have known her for many years, possibly for so long that you can't remember when you first met. It's hard to imagine how that concept would fit into your sentence about a visit to the U.S. that started and ended a long time ago.

Okay, I understand it better now, thanks.

 

[Hinata Sama]

"From way back" refers to a period of time that starts a long time ago and continues until now. For example, "I know her from way back" means that you have known her for many years, possibly for so long that you can't remember when you first met. It's hard to imagine how that concept would fit into your sentence about a visit to the U.S. that started and ended a long time ago.

Hi, I just think of one example.
Say, I have been living in America for years. A friend asked me, "When did you come to America?"
I answered, "I don't remember, but I do come from way back".

What do you think? Do I use "from way back" correctly here?

 

[Hinata Sama]

<-----Threads have been merged by moderator (Florentia52) at this point.----->

Hi, friends.
Please have a look at the converstaion I made up below.
"Have you seen A lately?"
"No, he is dead from way back"

Is it correct to use present simple tense in the second sentence?
or "He was dead from way back" ?

I think present tense is correct becasue all the sentences where "from way back" is used that I have
seen are present tense, but I am not very sure.

And, does "he is dead from way back" sound natural?
Please help, thanks.

 

[Glenfarclas]

No, we would not use "from way back" at all in a context like that.

 

[Hinata Sama]

No, we would not use "from way back" at all in a context like that.

Now that I think about it again, I think "I come from way back" may not be correct.
But I think "He is dead from way back" is correct?
Because being dead is a continuous state?

 

[Florentia52]

I think "He is dead from way back" is correct?
Because being dead is a continuous state?

Glenfarclas has already told you that it is not correct.

 

[Hinata Sama]

Glenfarclas has already told you that it is not correct.

And the reason is?
In post 6, you said, ' "From way back" refers to a period of time that starts a long time ago and continues until now. '
So why can't I say "he is dead from way back"
He died some time ago and his state of being dead continues until now.

 

[Glenfarclas]

So why can't I say "he is dead from way back"

That's just not how we use the expression. You can't be dead "from" a time: "He's dead from last week."

 

[Hinata Sama]

That's just not how we use the expression. You can't be dead "from" a time: "He's dead from last week."

Okay, thanks.