the moment = at the moment

[vil]

Dear teachers,

Would you be kind enough to explain to me the following usage of the term “moment” in the following two sentences?

I'll call you the moment I know the news.
She told me she would inform me the moment she heard.

As a matter of fact “the moment” = “at the moment”.

But on the other hand there are the following entities for the term “moment” in my dictionary:

1. a particular point in time
“The moment he arrived the party began.”

2. at this time
"she is studying at the moment"

Where is the difference come to that?

Thank you for your efforts.

Regards,

V.

[pyoung]

In all your examples except #2, 'the moment' means 'as soon as'. In #2, it means 'right now'.

Petra