by the time 的具体用法有哪些？

1、到...为止,一般要求主句用过去完成时。

He had left by the time we reached home.

当我们到家的时候他已经走了。

The movie had begun by the time we got there.

当我们到那儿的时候,电影已经开始了。

2、…当……的时候;

如果只是说过去某个时候的状况,用过去时,而不用完成时。

By the time the war was over ,death and suffering were to be seen everywhere.

在战争结束的时候,到处可见死亡和饥饿.这里没有“死亡和饥饿”已经完成的意思,只是描述当时这个时间点的状况.所以用过去时。

By the time we arrived the meeting was over.

我们到达时,会议已结束了。