Mastering "By That Time": A Simple Grammar Guide for English Learners

Have you ever needed to talk about a deadline? Or explain when an action will be finished? The phrase "by that time" is a powerful tool for this. Understanding how to use it correctly will improve your sentence structure and help you achieve greater fluency in English. This guide breaks down the meaning of "by that time," shows you how to use it in sentences, and helps you avoid common mistakes. Let's get started on improving your English grammar skills.

Table of Contents

• What Does “By That Time” Mean?
• What Type of Adverbial Phrase Is “By That Time”?
• Example Sentences with “By That Time”
• When and How to Use “By That Time”
• Summary and Practice Tip

What Does “By That Time” Mean?

"By that time" means at some point before or at a specific moment previously mentioned. It sets a deadline for an action. When you use this phrase, you are saying that something will be completed no later than a certain point in time.

It is an essential adverbial phrase for talking about schedules, plans, and events. This phrase modifies the verb in a sentence, telling us when the action is completed. It is a key piece of grammar for clear communication.

More: Mastering 'At the Crack of Dawn': Usage & Grammar Guide

What Type of Adverbial Phrase Is “By That Time”?

"By that time" is an adverbial phrase of time. It answers the question "When?". It tells you the deadline for an action, which is a very specific function for verb modifiers.

Let's look at its grammar structure. It’s quite simple:

• Preposition:by (This little word is key. It means “not later than.”)
• Determiner:that (This points to a specific time you already mentioned.)
• Noun:time

This phrase can be placed at the beginning or end of a sentence. Using it at the beginning often adds a little emphasis to the deadline.

• Sentence Pattern 1:By that time, Subject + Verb + Object.
  • Example: The movie starts at 8:00 PM. By that time, we should buy our tickets.
• Sentence Pattern 2: Subject + Verb + Object + by that time.
  • Example: We should buy our tickets by that time.

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Example Sentences with “By That Time”

Seeing "by that time" in real situations is the best way to learn. Here are some sentence examples to help you understand its natural sentence use:

• The train leaves at noon. We need to be at the station by that time.
• She started studying for her exam a month in advance. She felt very prepared by that time.

Here is a simple dialogue:

• Person A: "The meeting is tomorrow at 10 AM."
• Person B: "Okay, I will send you the report by that time."

More: Mastering By Tomorrow Morning: A Grammar Guide for English Learners

When and How to Use “By That Time”

This adverbial phrase is useful in many situations, both formal and informal. You can use it in emails to set deadlines, in conversations to make plans, or in storytelling to show the order of events. Understanding its usage is great for your ESL writing tips.

A common mistake for learners is confusing "by that time" with "at that time."

• "By that time" means something happens before or at the deadline. It focuses on completion.
  • I need to finish my homework by 8 PM. By that time, I will be ready to watch the movie. (The homework is done before or at 8 PM).
• "At that time" means something is happening at the exact moment. It focuses on the specific point in time.
  • The movie starts at 8 PM. At that time, I will be sitting in the cinema. (I am in the cinema at exactly 8 PM).

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, the preposition "by" is often used to mean "not later than," which is the core idea here.

Summary and Practice Tip

To summarize, "by that time" is an adverbial phrase of time that sets a deadline. It tells you that an action must be completed before or at a specific, previously mentioned time. It’s a simple but effective way to make your English sound more natural and precise.

Now it's your turn to practice! Think about something you need to do today or this week. Write a sentence in the comments using "by that time" to describe your plan. We'd love to see what you come up with!