Hi Sana,

With ‘by the time’ we essentially mean ‘before/at the time’, or otherwise that at the time mentioned the action/event will become true. It’s a bit like saying, “When I graduate, I will have lived here for 2 years.”

The problem with your second sentence is the preposition “in”; with a month, it would suggest the action is happening within that month, while your sentence indicates an ongoing action for 5 months. So you need to say “By April, I will have been preparing for 5 months.”

Phil

Hi!
By the time I graduate , I will have been living here for 2 years.
By the time you get married, I will have been doing this job for 5 years.

What does mean by” By the time” ?

Second question: in April ,I will have been preparing for civil service exam for 5 months .

Why In April is considered wrong here .don’t” In April” indicate towards future time

Hi Christine,

This is to do with the verb choice – ‘to know’ is not considered an ongoing process, so once we know someone/something we treat it like it a completed action – “He’ll have known her for 2 years.” (i.e. It will have been 2 years since he met her.) I hope this clears it up!

Thank you and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

Christine