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Anonymous Posted 12 years ago
Grammar
By the time vs until
Hello! Could someone explain the difference between "until" and "by the time" to me in the following example?
I hadn't realised how important my career was to me ..... I retired.
a. until b. by the time
Although I opted for a, which is the correct answer according to my grammar book, I cannot see why b is incorrect. Is there a difference in meaning between these two words or in their use?
I hadn't realised how important my career was to me ..... I retired.
a. until b. by the time
Although I opted for a, which is the correct answer according to my grammar book, I cannot see why b is incorrect. Is there a difference in meaning between these two words or in their use?
Top answer
I hadn't realised how important my career was to me until I retired . = After I retired, I suddenly realized it. (Thinking about it after retirement) I hadn't realised how important my career was to me by the time I retired .
- I hadn't realised how important my career was to me until I retired .
- = After I retired, I suddenly realized it.
- (Thinking about it after retirement) I hadn't realised how important my career was to me by the time I retired .
- (Thinking about it before retirement)
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2 Answers
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I hadn't realised how important my career was to me until I retired. = After I retired, I suddenly realized it. (Thinking about it after retirement)
I hadn't realised how important my career was to me by the time I retired. = I tried to realise it before I retired, but I did not.(Thinking about it before retirement)
I hadn't realised how important my career was to me by the time I retired. = I tried to realise it before I retired, but I did not.(Thinking about it before retirement)
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She did not own a car until she was twenty-five. (Before age twenty-five she owned no cars)
By the time she was twenty-five she had owned a Mercedes, a Porsche and a Ferrari. (Before age twenty-five she owned several cars)
By the time she was twenty-five she had owned a Mercedes, a Porsche and a Ferrari. (Before age twenty-five she owned several cars)
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