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Mikael Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

When / by the time


I’m flying to the USA this evening. So When you receive this letter, I’ll be in New York
I’m flying to the USA this evening. So by the time you receive this letter, I’ll be in New York
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It’s not worth going to the shopping now. When we get to the shops, they’ll be closed.

It’s not worth going to the shopping now. By the time we get to the shops, they’ll be closed.

Do they have the same meaning?
  

Top answer

They are the same when what you're describing is a state - being in New York or being open. There could be difference when it refers to an action that happens once and briefly. When you arrive, I will leave versus By the time you arrive, I will have left .

— BarbaraPA

  • They are the same when what you're describing is a state - being in New York or being open.
  • There could be difference when it refers to an action that happens once and briefly.
  • When you arrive, I will leave versus By the time you arrive, I will have left .
  • In the first sentence, the two events take place at the same time or the second immediately after the first.
  • In the second sentence, the first event has already taken place.
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1 Answers
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They are the same when what you're describing is a state - being in New York or being open.

There could be difference when it refers to an action that happens once and briefly.

When you arrive, I will leave versus By the time you arrive, I will have left.

In the first sentence, the two events take place at the same time or the second immediately after the f
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