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Guest Posted 22 years ago
Grammar
What's the difference between...
be here AT 8:00am and be here by 8:00am?
Top answer
There really isn't any PRACTICAL difference. Grammatically though, "Be here AT 8:00am" means "I don't care where you are at one second before 8:00am, nor do I care where you are at one second past 8:00am, but on the dot of 8:00am, be here". Whereas, "Be here BY 8:00am" means "arrive at some point in time before 8:00am, and remain here until at least 8:00am".
- There really isn't any PRACTICAL difference.
- Grammatically though, "Be here AT 8:00am" means "I don't care where you are at one second before 8:00am, nor do I care where you are at one second past 8:00am, but on the dot of 8:00am, be here".
- Whereas, "Be here BY 8:00am" means "arrive at some point in time before 8:00am, and remain here until at least 8:00am".
- Like I said, there's very little difference really in practice, although the "by" version could be taken to imply a little more flexibility - like, if either of us is a little late, we wait for the other, wheras the "at" version could be taken to imply "if you're late, you'll have missed it".
- Rommie
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4 Answers
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There really isn't any PRACTICAL difference.
Grammatically though, "Be here AT 8:00am" means "I don't care where you are at one second before 8:00am, nor do I care where you are at one second past 8:00am, but on the dot of 8:00am, be here". Whereas, "Be here BY 8:00am" means "arrive at some point in time before 8:00am, and remain here until at least 8:00am".
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Grammatically though, "Be here AT 8:00am" means "I don't care where you are at one second before 8:00am, nor do I care where you are at one second past 8:00am, but on the dot of 8:00am, be here". Whereas, "Be here BY 8:00am" means "arrive at some point in time before 8:00am, and remain here until at least 8:00am".
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When you plan to carry out something for a specific time at the latest. Use ' by '
eg. Try to finish what I've told you by
eg. Try to finish what I've told you by
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What's wrong with that, perfect sentence. Mentioning the time would be even better though.
eg. I was here at 8.00 sharp th
, perfect sentence. Mentioning the time would be even better though.eg. I was here at 8.00 sharp th
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