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PreciousJones Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Circus

The circus is in the town and I'm away but will be going back just in time to see it.

A friend asks me:

"Are you going to the circus?" And I reply w/ "Yes, by that time I'll already be back in town."

Or "Yes, I'll be back in town by that time."
  

Top answer

Both fine. Usually grammar says that you should place manner adverbials before place adverbials and that place adverbials go before time adverbials. But that's oversimplified and overgeneralized.

— Ivanhr

  • Both fine.
  • Usually grammar says that you should place manner adverbials before place adverbials and that place adverbials go before time adverbials.
  • But that's oversimplified and overgeneralized.
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4 Answers
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Both fine.

Usually grammar says that you should place manner adverbials before place adverbials and that place adverbials go before time adverbials. But that's oversimplified and overgeneralized.
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Thanks, but does the sentence mean that I'll be in town by that time so I'll be able to make the circus?

Or I'll be back so I'll be going to the circus.
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Is there a difference between the two sentences? They mean pretty much the same to me. BTW, the answer to your question is a resounding yes. That's what the yes in your sentence is for.
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PreciousJones"Are you going to the circus?" And I reply w/ "Yes, by that time I'll already be back in town."
To the question, I would rephrase the bolb part: Yes, I should be back in time (before the last show).
" By that time " is not necessary because
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