By that time/at that time

By that time/at that time
 

Hi everyone,

I just signed up here and have already found these forums extremely helpful. I just have a quick question that can probably be answered quite quickly by someone here:

How do you say "at that time?" As in, "At that time, I hadn't yet known the answer."

Also, how do you say "by that time?" As in, "By that time, I had already completed the task."

Any info. would be greatly appreciated; thanks so much!

Firstly, I bid you welcome to this place.

I hope your stay in the forums, it'll be enjoyable.

Now, the phrase in Spanish means Esta vez, por el momento, also you cn find alots phrase like to the last ones, but the most common are the that I told you first.

In the examples that you have gave.

An example translate in Spanish means.
Also, how do you say "by that time?" As in, "By that time, I had already completed the task."


He terminado mi tarea por el momento.


Therefore the phrases at the time or moment, means as near as you can use the same.

I hope you can understand me.

Regards.

To me:

at that time = en ese tiempo/entonces

by that time = por ese tiempo/entonces

So you could essentially substitute "entonces" in either case?

En ese tiempo, no ya sabía la respuesta.
Entonces, no ya sabía la respuesta.
(Equivalent?)

Por ese tiempo, ya ha completado la tarea.
Entonces, ya ha completado la tarea.
(Equivalent?)

So, if using "entonces", how would I tell if it meant "by that time" or "at that time"? By the context?

Yes! :)

Waiit a miiiiiiiiinute! :D

By then I had completed the task.

Then I had completed the task.

Could both of these sentences mean the same thing?

I would say, yes. But also it depends on the context in which it is being applied. Right? or KNot? :)

Please let me know.

Maybe I should stick with Spanish that's at my level. If you can't run with the big dogs, stay on the porch! :) (Is there a Spanish equivalent for THAT phrase???)

ANYWAY - yes, there is a slight difference between "at that time" and "by that time". Slight.... so I guess that if I wanted to stress that difference, I'd use "en ese tiempo" or "por ese tiempo", depending......

What I am trying to tell you, is that "use what you know in English..." :)

You're doing OK. :)

No hay que meterse en peleas de perros grandes... :eek:

There's an equivalent of you said before in Spanish.

No hay que meterse en peleas de gatos y perros.


Just as the Capone.