by the time, when

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Teo  #486632  Sun, 09 Mar 08 11:58 AM

If you go now, ___ you arrive there, he will still be taking an afternoon nap. You had better wait a little while.

(A) by the time (B) when

Which choice is correct?

  
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Thank you very much for your reply.
Anonymous  #486654  Sun, 09 Mar 08 12:52 PM
 Both.
  
Kooyeen  #486657  Sun, 09 Mar 08 12:58 PM
I'm not sure... is "by the time" ok in that case? It seems strange used with "still".
  
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Anonymous  #486663  Sun, 09 Mar 08 01:27 PM
[link]

If you go now,at the time you arrive there, he will still be taking an afternoon nap. You had better wait a little while.

I do not see your problem with still, Koyeen. 

 

  
Kooyeen  #486785  Sun, 09 Mar 08 11:52 PM
Because I don't interpret "by the time" as "at the time".
By the time you arrive there, something will already have happened, or will already be happening. I connect "by the time" with "already", not "still".

Is it just me? Maybe, who knows, lol. Smile
  
Yankee  #486792  Mon, 10 Mar 08 12:23 AM
I agree with you, Kooyeen.  The use of 'by the time' and 'still' in that sentence strikes me as wrong, too.

'By the time' means 'not later than the time'.  Let's insert 'not later than the time' into the sentence and see if it makes any sense:

If you go now, not later than the time you arrive there, he will still be taking an afternoon nap. You had better wait a little while.

To me, that sentence makes no sense whatsoever.

 

EDIT:

Note to Anon:

It is the word 'when' that means 'at the time'.  The word 'when' is fine in the sentence. 

 

  
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Anonymous  #487385  Tue, 11 Mar 08 12:06 PM

Another way of thinking is:

If you go now, (at any time that is) not later than the time you arrive there, he will still be taking an afternoon nap. You had better wait a little while.

 

 

 

  
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