diff --git a/ago.py b/ago.py
index 433ae30..455317e 100644
--- a/ago.py
+++ b/ago.py
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ from datetime import (
   timedelta,
 )
 
+units = ('year', 'day', 'hour', 'minute', 'second', 'microsecond')
+
 def get_delta_from_subject(subject):
     subject_type = type(subject)
     if subject_type is timedelta:
@@ -42,17 +44,12 @@ def human(subject, precision=2, past_tense='{} ago', future_tense='in {}', abbre
     :returns: Human readable timedelta string (Str)
     """
     delta = get_delta_from_subject(subject)
-
-    # determine if the_tense is past_tense or future_tense.
-    the_tense = past_tense
-    if delta < timedelta(0):
-        the_tense = future_tense
+    the_tense = future_tense if delta < timedelta(0) else past_tense
 
     d = delta2dict( delta )
 
     hlist = []
     count = 0
-    units = ( 'year', 'day', 'hour', 'minute', 'second', 'microsecond' )
 
     # start building up the output in the hlist.
     for unit in units: