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Averell Posted 21 years ago
Vocabulary
How to use the phrase "At the time"
Dear,
I usually use the phrase "at the time" in sentences like the following sentence: At the time I came back home, my parents were having dinner. But, yesterday, I saw the following sentence in my grammar book: At the time my aunt was looking after our children. I don't know what does this sentence mean. Could you help me, please.
I usually use the phrase "at the time" in sentences like the following sentence: At the time I came back home, my parents were having dinner. But, yesterday, I saw the following sentence in my grammar book: At the time my aunt was looking after our children. I don't know what does this sentence mean. Could you help me, please.
Top answer
You are using it correctly, and presumably it is correct in your grammar book sentence; however, the latter is a poor example, because what is also needed is a previous statement, for instance: 'In May of 1985, my wife and I were able to take our second honeymoon. ' A comma after 'home' is helpful in order to distinguish that sentence from a dependent clause: 'At the time my aunt was looking after our children, my uncle was tapdancing in a vaudeville revue'.
- You are using it correctly, and presumably it is correct in your grammar book sentence; however, the latter is a poor example, because what is also needed is a previous statement, for instance: 'In May of 1985, my wife and I were able to take our second honeymoon.
- ' A comma after 'home' is helpful in order to distinguish that sentence from a dependent clause: 'At the time my aunt was looking after our children, my uncle was tapdancing in a vaudeville revue'.
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3 Answers
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You are using it correctly, and presumably it is correct in your grammar book sentence; however, the latter is a poor example, because what is also needed is a previous statement, for instance:
'In May of 1985, my wife and I were able to take our second honeymoon. At the time, my aunt was looking after our children.'
A comma after 'home' is helpful in order to distinguish
'In May of 1985, my wife and I were able to take our second honeymoon. At the time, my aunt was looking after our children.'
A comma after 'home' is helpful in order to distinguish
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Thank you, Mister Micawber.
So, in my second example, it is not another way of using the phrase "at the time".
I was confused when reading that sentence in that book, because it is in a grammar excercise. There's neither a sentence before nor after that sentence.
So, in my second example, it is not another way of using the phrase "at the time".
I was confused when reading that sentence in that book, because it is in a grammar excercise. There's neither a sentence before nor after that sentence.
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No, it's the same use; there was simply not enough context supplied for the reader to understand completely.
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