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Tenacious Learner Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

By now [by this time]

Hi teachers,
By now he was out of the hospital and back at work.
Would 'by this time' be an appropriate synonym for 'by now'? is there a better one?
In that phrase, by indicates the end of a particular period of time?

Thanks in advance.
  

Top answer

Thinking Spain Would 'by this time' be an appropriate synonym for 'by now'? Yes. Thinking Spain is there a better one?

  • Thinking Spain Would 'by this time' be an appropriate synonym for 'by now'?
  • Yes.
  • Thinking Spain is there a better one?
  • By that time Thinking Spain In that phrase, by indicates the end of a particular period of time?
  • Right.
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2 Answers
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Thinking SpainWould 'by this time' be an appropriate synonym for 'by now'?
Yes.
Thinking Spain is there a better one?
By that time
Thinking SpainIn that phrase, by indicates the end of a particular period of time?
Right.
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In case others are puzzled, I'll note that 'now' can be used in the sense of 'then' or 'next' in past time.

Napoleon had landed safely in France. Now all he had to do was find a few thousand men.
She typed 'The End' with an enormous sigh of relied. Now she could relax at last.
"Come on," hissed Ivor, "Pick up the phone, **** you!" Surely Q would be home by

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