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Hectorhimeros2010 Posted 15 years ago
Vocabulary

Does "at then" exist in English language ???

I read from somewhere (grammar book) that "at then" was used to express something that happened in the past. Roughly, it meant "at that moment" or "at that time". It's been years and the phrase has been ingrained in my mind. I have used it a lot whenever I write stories.

Lately, a new online friend pointed out that English doesn't have "at then" !!! I didn't believe him at first. I went to search the phrase oneline but found nothing. But I'm still not satisfied! Thus, I come here.

So please enlighten me. Does English language ever have phrase "at then" ??? I know there's "now and then".
  

Top answer

Hello, Hector - and welcome to English Forums. I have never met 'at then' and it sounds terribly wrong to me. 'Then' idiomatically includes 'at' in sentences like 'I wasn't happy then', just as 'home' idiomatically includes 'to' in 'I went home'.

— Mister Micawber

  • Hello, Hector - and welcome to English Forums.
  • I have never met 'at then' and it sounds terribly wrong to me.
  • 'Then' idiomatically includes 'at' in sentences like 'I wasn't happy then', just as 'home' idiomatically includes 'to' in 'I went home'.
  • You have either remembered wrongly or your grammar book was a non-native one.
  • 'Now and then' is unrelated.
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1 Answers
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Hello, Hector - and welcome to English Forums.

I have never met 'at then' and it sounds terribly wrong to me. 'Then' idiomatically includes 'at' in sentences like 'I wasn't happy then', just as 'home' idiomatically includes 'to' in 'I went home'. You have either remembered wrongly or your grammar book was a non-native one.

'Now and then' is unrelated. It means 'sometimes, occa
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