by the time

[curious]

By the time he ----, we ---- a meeting.

A) arrived / had
B) has arrived / will have
C) arrives / will be having
D) arrives / are having
E) arrives / have had

which one is correct?

[Tdol]

What do you think first?

[curious]

By the time he ----, we ---- a meeting.
A) arrived / had
B) has arrived / will have
C) arrives / will be having
D) arrives / are having
E) arrives / have had
which one is correct?

I think D is correct. But as a nonnative, I can't explain why the others are not correct. For example:
A, B, C, D would be correct if the conjunction was "when" but why they are wrong when the conjunction is "by the time"?

why can't we use them (when, by the time) with the same tense sequence? What is the difference between them?

[Tdol]

By the time- sets a limit, so the limit would either come in the middle (will be having) or after the end (will have had).

[curious]

By the time- sets a limit, so the limit would either come in the middle (will be having) or after the end (will have had).

would the limit really come in the middle? then C is correct? then can you explain what makes D wrong? Is this sentence OK? "By the time he came, we were having a meeting."

[Johan[@CLT]]

I would go for C.

By the time he arrives, we will be having a meeting.

This is mind breaker

Kind Regards

[Tdol]

would the limit really come in the middle?

Why not? Imagine that he was supposed to be there at 3, then rang in to say he was stuck in traffic and would miss the start.

then can you explain what makes D wrong?

The present progressive for the future implies a fixed arrangemnt, and it is unlikely that you would make an arrangement that would fit this timing.

Is this sentence OK? "By the time he came, we were having a meeting."

Yes

[hela]

Can we also say: "By the time he came, we had (already) had a meeting" ?

[MrPedantic]

Hello Hela

Yes, that would be fine!

MrP

PS: In a novel written in the "historic present" – probably one of those ones with the author's name in big curly writing on a pink and yellow cover, called "Tessie's Totally Tip-Top Trip", or whatever – E might also be acceptable:

"Tarquin is late. But then, Tarquin is always late. By the time he arrives, we've had a meeting, an all-staff email from the CEO, two cappuccinos, and a platter of corporate finger food from the little Italian place on the corner..."

(Well, or something like that, anyway.)

[hela]

Dear teachers,
Is it possible to add another clause (idea) to the sentence given above? If yes, in which tense should the verb be? Could it be something else than (correct ???) the future?
By the time he comes, we will be having a meeting / will have had a meeting..... (it is possible to add something else here? In which tense ?)
Best regards,
Hela