nearly a month earlier

[puzzle]

On 1 June 1937, she started her round-the-world flight. The flight went well in June. She reached New Guinea on the 29th. She had gone flying nearly a month earlier.

:?: What does "earlier" mean here? Please.

 

[charliedeut]

Hi puzzle,

As I read it, it means, quite literally, that she started her flight one month (approximately, in this case) before she reached New Guinea.

charliedeut

 

[puzzle]

Why not just say " nearly a month "? Is it good English with "earlier" here? Please.

 

[charliedeut]

Why not just say " nearly a month "? Is it good English with "earlier" here? Please.

Hi puzzle,

IMO, to just say "nearly a month", you would need to change the main verb: "She had been flying for nearly a month".

Also, IMO, it is correct with "earlier".

charliedeut

PS: Maybe native speakers/teachers will have something else to say.

 

[Barb_D]

She started flying on June 1. On June 29, she had been flying nearly a month. 28 days = nearly a month.

The passage would be greatly improved, in my opinion, by changing the word "gone" to "started."

 

[SoothingDave]

I am not sure why the author gives both the exact dates and an approximation.

 

[charliedeut]

I am not sure why the author gives both the exact dates and an approximation.

Split personality? :lol: