"At that time" versus "By that time"

Mister Micawber · Sat Dec 16, 2006 14:58 pm *"At that time" versus "By that time"*

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At the time = at that point in time. By that time has overtones of duration which are not appropriate here, since the statement indicates a lack of activity. By that time, I had been teaching English for several years-- here we have a durational factor.
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_________________
Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mister Micawber

Tom · Fri Jan 05, 2007 20:54 pm *"At that time" versus "By that time"*

Could you please explain the sentence to me??

Tom

Mister Micawber · Sat Jan 06, 2007 0:35 am *"At that time" versus "By that time"*

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Which sentence?
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_________________
Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mister Micawber

Tom · Sat Jan 06, 2007 5:59 am *"At that time" versus "By that time"*

Mister Micawber · Sat Jan 06, 2007 8:27 am *"At that time" versus "By that time"*

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At that point in past time, I had not taught since a short unbroken period of time during which I taught at Berlitz School of Languages in Montreal, 1967-8.
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_________________
Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mister Micawber

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