by the time
by the time means “By the time means 'not later than the moment when' and fixes the tenses of the two linked events.”. By the time + present simple sets a future deadline, with the future perfect in the main clause: By the time you arrive, I will have finished. Formation: by the time + present -> future perfect · by the time + past -> past perfect
By the time means 'not later than the moment when' and fixes the tenses of the two linked events.
C1Formation
by the time + present -> future perfect · by the time + past -> past perfect
Explanation
By the time + present simple sets a future deadline, with the future perfect in the main clause: By the time you arrive, I will have finished. By the time + past simple sets a past deadline, with the past perfect in the main clause: By the time we got there, the train had left. Never use will inside the by-the-time clause, even for future meaning.
Examples
Note
Compare until, which covers a whole stretch of time; by the time marks the single point by which something is already complete, which is why it pulls in perfect tenses.
FAQ
by the time — what does it mean and how is it used?
By the time means 'not later than the moment when' and fixes the tenses of the two linked events.. By the time + present simple sets a future deadline, with the future perfect in the main clause: By the time you arrive, I will have finished. By the time + past simple sets a past deadline, with the past perfect in the main clause: By the time we got there, the train had left. Never use will inside the by-the-time clause, even for future meaning.
by the time — how do you form it?
by the time + present -> future perfect · by the time + past -> past perfect
by the time — any usage notes?
Compare until, which covers a whole stretch of time; by the time marks the single point by which something is already complete, which is why it pulls in perfect tenses.