earlier/early

Question

Is there a context where you would use "I would arrive there earlier" rather than "I would arrive there early"? Could you provide me that context?Thanks in advance!

Marius Hancu · Accepted Answer

I would arrive there earlier than 7 o'clock.

New2grammar · Answer

If the meeting time is known to both parties, can one just say "I would arrive there earlier"?

Peaceblinkfriend · Answer

Hi New2grammar,

Yep. You could just say 'I would arrive there earlier'. In fact, I believe most of the time, people tend to omit the time phrase. That is, "than * o'clock" .

Best wishes,

PBF

New2grammar · Answer

So in the same context, "early" is just as correct as "earlier". They have no significant differences. Am I right?

Yankee · Answer

Hi N2G

I think there is a very important difference.

The word 'early' could simply mean 'early in the day' or 'early in the evening' (for example) and does not necessarily refer back to any previously mentioned and/or specific time.

The word 'earlier' suggests 'earlier than' and therefore it must refer to a specifíc time, which has already been mentioned previously or is already known.

Even if a specific time has been mentioned, using the word "early" could also (theoretically) mean "as early as possible", which could be after the time mentioned rather than prior to the previously mentioned time -- it depends on the rest of the context.

Peaceblinkfriend · Answer

Hi Yankee,

But you could still omit the time phrase after the word 'earlier', right? Provide that specific time is already known to both parties of course.

Thank you.

Best wishes,

PBF

New2grammar · Answer

So in the context where a specific time is already known to both parties, if one said, "I would arrive there early", would that make the other party's jaw drop?

Yankee · Answer

Let's say a friend of yours has invited you to a barbecue. He tells you that people will start arriving at 11 a.m. and that he expects the party to last until the wee hours of the morning. He tells you that you can come whenever you want. If you say "OK, I'll be there early", that means you will probably arrive at or not too long after 11. "Early" could be as late as 12 or 1 p.m.

If you said "I'll arrive earlier", that would mean "before 11 a.m." and that would be impolite unless you also offer to help with the party preparations.

You might also tell your host "I will have to leave early because I have to work early the next morning". That means you will probably leave in the late afternoon or early evening -- which will probably be earlier than most of the rest of the guests leave.

Does that clarify things?

New2grammar · Answer

Thanks a lot, Amy! It's much clearer now.

But I have the tendency to say "I will have to leave earlier because ..." because in my mind, I think of it as leaving earlier than other guests. I believe that's not acceptable to native speakers, does it?.

Peaceblinkfriend · Answer

YankeeLet's say a friend of yours has invited you to a barbecue. He tells you that people will start arriving at 11 a.m. and that he expects the party to last until the wee hours of the morning. He tells you that you can come whenever you want. If you say "OK, I'll be there early", that means you will probably arrive at or not too long after 11. "Early" could be as late as 12 or 1 p.m.

If you said "I'll arrive earlier", that would mean "before 11 a.m." and that would be impolite unless you also offer to help with the party preparations.

You might also tell your host "I will have to leave early because I have to work early the next morning". That means you will probably leave in the late afternoon or early evening -- which will probably be earlier than most of the rest of the guests leave.

Does that clarify things?

Wow. I never knew that. Thank you Yankee. I believe I learnt a lot from this post.

Best wishes,

PBF

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