by the time 有兩個意思
1.到...為止,一般要求主句用過去完成時.
He had left by the time we reached home.
當我們到家的時候他已經(jīng)走了.
The movie had begun by the time we got there.
當我們到那兒的時候,電影已經(jīng)開始了.
2)…當……的時候;
如果只是說過去某個時候的狀況,用過去時,而不用完成時.
By the time the war was over ,death and suffering were to be seen everywhere.在戰(zhàn)爭結束的時候,到處可見死亡和饑餓.這里沒有“死亡和饑餓”已經(jīng)完成的意思,只是描述當時這個時間點的狀況.所以用過去時.
By the time we arrived the meeting was over.
我們到達時,會議已結束了.By the time we arrived the meeting was over這個句子后面用完成式更好。你的看法呢？By the time we arrived the meeting was over==By the time we arrived the meeting had ended.==By the time we arrived the meeting had been over for 10 minutes請認真閱讀以上三句，注意所用動詞。祝你愉快。