By that time = at that time??

[Apollo_Doutrinador]

"By then" = "then"? "by that time" = "at that time"?

Which the difference?? What does "by" means? Which the synonyms to the word "by" on this case (by then, by that time)?

[Raymott]

"By then" = "then"? "by that time" = "at that time"?

Which the difference?? What does "by" means? Which the synonyms to the word "by" on this case (by then, by that time)?

By then means sometime between now and then.
Your car will be ready by 4pm.
This means they might have it ready before 4pm, but it will be no later than 4pm. At 4pm it will be ready.

[Apollo_Doutrinador]

So, this means they might have it ready before 4pm or at 4 pm?!

[Anglika]

So, this means they might have it ready before 4pm or at 4 pm?!

It will be ready at any time up to 4.p.m.

It does not imply a precise time.

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