(no subject)

[upthera44.livejournal.com]

And one more...

When should one use "Х лет назад" and when "Х лет *тому* назад"? Are they interchangeable, if not what is the difference?

Comments

[dinasty.livejournal.com]

"Х лет *тому* назад" makes it sound a bit like a tale for me. It is a literary expression.
"Х лет назад" - normal spoken language.

[upthera44.livejournal.com]

So it seems they are rather interchangable, but one is more formal than the other?

[dinasty.livejournal.com]

Yes, like that.
Not even more formal, but "Х лет *тому* назад" is used in books mostly, we almost don't say it. In speech it'll sound sarcastic rather than formal to me.

[pigmeich.livejournal.com]

Second one is more appropriate as equivalent to "X years long ago".

So, there'are tales and narrations from a person about period passed long ago in his own life.

[pyenot.livejournal.com]

"Х лет *тому* назад" - use in fairy tales.

[vovse-ne.livejournal.com]

Not only. "It is a literary expression."

[windy-corner.livejournal.com]

"Х лет тому назад" is for a narrative, story-telling, has a flavour slightly reminding of 'once upon a time' but for a story that pretends to be true to life.

[nitro007.livejournal.com]

Exampl X+Y+Z where x=(1,2,3.....few,many...) and y=(year(s),time,month(s),week(s),day(s)) and z=(ago,leter...)

[nitro007.livejournal.com]

Exampl X+Y+Z where x=(1,2,3.....few,many...) and y=(year(s),time,month(s),week(s),day(s)) and z=(ago,leter...)

[david-us.livejournal.com]

Probably, the best way to think of it (for an English speaker is this)

X лет тому назад = would come close to saying "Once upon a time" or like the melodramatic beginning of Star Wars, "A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away ..." :)

X лет назад = would be used in more normal, conversational speech. If somebody asked you when you graduated from college, you wouldn't say, "Once upon a time, 10 years ago."

David Emerling
Memphis, TN