It/This is/was (grammar)

[JorgeV]

Hello-

Indirectly related, but, in English what is correct?

"<a sentence with the date of an event>" followed by another sentence:

"It was 5 years ago."

Or

"It is 5 years ago."
"This was 5 years ago."
"This is 5 years ago."

?

[topr8]

It was five years ago, when I last saw Ozzy.

It is five years ago today, that I last saw Ozzy.

I remember seeing Ozzy. This was five years ago.

........

It is 5 years ago. I'm in my 20s again! (i wish)
I was sad. This was 5 years ago. I am happy now.

................


i think it was is what you need.

[lucy24]

Unless you're going into clever exceptions (topr8, I am impressed), stick with “was”.

The choice between “This” and “It” is more of a judgement call. Some editors froth at the mouth when you use “this” as anything other than a pure demonstrative. (Do not say “This is true” in the hearing of these editors.) For that matter, there are also times when “That” is most appropriate. In the last example above, I’d be inclined to say

I was sad. That was 5 years ago. I am happy now.

[tangor]

Usually, when dealing with dates:

"Five years ago ..."
"On 'mm/dd/yy' ..."

[not2easy]

In topr8's examples. I agree on "It was 5 years ago." ("It" being the event.)
But it would depend on the context. English is weird that way. Examples:
I graduated on June 4th in 2014. That was 5 years ago. (haha)
The Big Towels won the season starter game on April 4th 2014. That was 5 years ago.

[lucy24]

The Big Towels won the season starter game on April 4th 2014. That was 5 years ago.

With unspoken implication that they haven't won a single game since?
:)

[JorgeV]

Thank you everybody, for your valuable answers!