English Grammar

BY THE TIME

Adrien Cohen- Olivar

User since 2014
Posts: 1

9 Nov. 2014

Helle everyone
May somebody explain me how to use the expression " by the time" in different tenses?
thank you

3 comments

Thierry
User since 2012
Posts: 54
9 Nov. 2014

Hi Adrien,
An easy way to read words or expressions in context is to do as follows :
1 - connect on <a href="http://www.wordreference.com/">http://www.wordreference.com/</a>
2 - Type the word or expression you seek after in the input box ( for example : by the time)
3 - Valid by hitting the Enter key or by clicking on the little loupe right next to the input box
4 - A new page appears with "by the time" in the header and the choices below :
English definition | English synonyms | in Spanish | conjugator | in context | images
5 - Select "in context" and then you will access thousands of newspapers articles which
contain the word or expression you are searching.
Nice day to you
Hi Adrien, An easy way to read words or expressions in context is to do as follows : 1 - connect on <a href="http://www.wordreference.com/">http://www.wordreference.com/</a> 2 - Type the word or expression you seek after in the input box ( for example : by the time) 3 - Valid by hitting the Enter key or by clicking on the little loupe right next to the input box 4 - A new page appears with "by the time" in the header and the choices below : English definition | English synonyms | in Spanish | conjugator | in context | images 5 - Select "in context" and then you will access thousands of newspapers articles which contain the word or expression you are searching. Nice day to you
AhQ ['a: kiu]
User since 2006
Posts: 2715
11 Nov. 2014

Hi Adrien,
Thanks to Thierry you can find out lots of ways the expression is used.
About tenses coming after 'by the time', that's quite simple.
Just note that time here means moment, point of time.

When a time clause introduced by when, by the time, before, as soon as, after .... refers to the future, the present simple (possibly continuous) is required in the time clause. They WILL COME IN by the time an open door policy COMES into force. I WILL PAY by the time my checking account IS WORKING.

When a time clause introduced by 'by the time', etc. refers to the past, the past simple is used. By the time poverty WAS rife, I WAS a wee boy. Past perfect might also fit is sentences like "By the time I had grown up, I was so happy."
That's nothing but my mind, Adrien.
Hi Adrien, Thanks to Thierry you can find out lots of ways the expression is used. About tenses coming after 'by the time', that's quite simple. Just note that time here means moment, point of time. When a time clause introduced by when, by the time, before, as soon as, after .... refers to the future, the present simple (possibly continuous) is required in the time clause. They WILL COME IN by the time an open door policy COMES into force. I WILL PAY by the time my checking account IS WORKING. When a time clause introduced by 'by the time', etc. refers to the past, the past simple is used. By the time poverty WAS rife, I WAS a wee boy. Past perfect might also fit is sentences like "By the time I had grown up, I was so happy." That's nothing but my mind, Adrien.
Gymglish Support
User since 2010
Posts: 115
15 Dec. 2014

Hi Adrien, Thierry and AhQ have given you helpful answers here.

In case a shorter summary helps:

"By the time" is similar to "when" or "at the moment when". In general, when we say "by the time", we indicate that at a certain point, an action had already happened.

For example:

By the time I arrrived, everyone had left.
"By the time I arrived" = When I arrived, at the moment when I arrived
We know that everyone had left at some point before I arrived.

I hope this helps!
Hi Adrien, Thierry and AhQ have given you helpful answers here. In case a shorter summary helps: "By the time" is similar to "when" or "at the moment when". In general, when we say "by the time", we indicate that at a certain point, an action had already happened. For example: By the time I arrrived, everyone had left. "By the time I arrived" = When I arrived, at the moment when I arrived We know that everyone had left at some point before I arrived. I hope this helps!

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