Earlier vs Formerly vs Like before vs Previously

Cuándo usar cada una en inglés, con significado, registro y ejemplos.

Earlier

Top 2000 (común)

Formerly

FormalMás de 10 000 (menos común)B2adverb

Like before

Top 3000 (común)

Previously

Top 2000 (común)B1adverb
Más formal: Formerly
 EarlierFormerlyLike beforePreviously
Pronunciación🇬🇧 //ˈɪə.əl.ɪə//🇺🇸 //ˈɪr.li.ər//🇬🇧 /["/ˈfɔːməli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈfɔːrmərli/"]/🇬🇧 //laɪk bɪˈfɔː//🇺🇸 //laɪk bɪˈfɔr//🇬🇧 /["/ˈpriːviəsli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈpriːviəsli/"]/
SignificadoAntes de ahora o antes de una hora concretaBefore now or before a specific timeen el pasado; antes de ahorain the past; before nowAs you did in the past.Antes de ahora; más temprano.Before now; earlier.
EjemploI arrived earlier than everyone else.Namibia, formerly known as South West AfricaShe smiled at him, just like before.The building had previously been used as a hotel.
RegistroNeutralFormalNeutralNeutral
Qué tan comúnTop 2000 (común)Más de 10 000 (menos común)Top 3000 (común)Top 2000 (común)
Nivel CEFR-B2-B1
Categoría gramaticaladverbadverb
Colocacionesearlier today, earlier than expected, earlier this weekformerly a leader, formerly known, formerly usedact like before, feel like before, return like beforepreviously mentioned, previously discussed, previously stated, previously introduced, previously reported
Antónimoslater, aftercurrently, now-subsequently, afterwards
Errores comunesConfused with 'earliest' - 'earlier' compares two times, while 'earliest' refers to the first in a group., Using 'earlier' to refer to future events - it only applies to past events.Confused with 'formally' — 'formerly' relates to the past, while 'formally' relates to official contexts., Omitting it when describing past roles or states, which can lead to ambiguity.Using 'like' incorrectly in formal writing., Confusing with 'similar to before' which implies comparison rather than action., Forgetting to use past tense verbs when referring to a past action.Using 'previous' instead of 'previously' in a sentence., Confusing 'previously' with 'currently' which means now., Misplacing 'previously' in a sentence and changing the meaning.
Notas de usoUsa 'antes' para referirte a un momento previo a lo que se está hablando. Es neutral. Evita usarlo en contextos muy formales donde se necesiten referencias de tiempo específicas.Use 'earlier' to refer to a time before what is currently being discussed. It is neutral in tone. Avoid using it in highly formal contexts where specific time references are needed.Usa 'anteriormente' para describir algo que era cierto en el pasado pero que ya no lo es. Es más formal que decir 'solía'. Evita usarlo en conversaciones informales.Use 'formerly' to describe something that was true in the past but is no longer the case. It is more formal than saying 'used to'. Avoid in casual conversations.Use 'like before' to indicate a return to a previous situation or action. This phrase is appropriate in both spoken and written contexts.Usa 'anteriormente' para conectar eventos pasados con el presente. Es adecuado tanto para contextos hablados como escritos, pero puede sonar demasiado formal en conversaciones informales.Use 'previously' to connect past events with the present. It's suitable for both spoken and written contexts but may sound too formal in casual conversations.

Míralo en clips reales

Earlier
Formerly
Like before

Preguntas frecuentes: Earlier vs Formerly vs Like before vs Previously

¿Cuál es la diferencia entre Earlier, Formerly, Like before y Previously?

Earlier: Before now or before a specific time Formerly: in the past; before now Like before: As you did in the past. Previously: Before now; earlier.

¿Cuál es más formal: Earlier, Formerly, Like before y Previously?

Formerly es la más formal de estas.

¿Cuál es más avanzada: Earlier, Formerly, Like before y Previously?

Formerly es la de nivel más alto, en B2, en la escala CEFR.

¿Puedes mostrar un ejemplo de cada una?

Earlier: I arrived earlier than everyone else. Formerly: Namibia, formerly known as South West Africa Like before: She smiled at him, just like before. Previously: The building had previously been used as a hotel.

¿Puedo usar Earlier, Formerly, Like before y Previously indistintamente?

No siempre. Earlier, Formerly, Like before y Previously están relacionadas y a veces se solapan, pero difieren en registro, frecuencia y uso, así que cambiar una por otra puede alterar el significado o el tono. Revisa las diferencias de arriba antes de sustituir.

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