Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[yoshi-pooh]

Hi, everyone!

Is there any difference in meaning between the sentences below?

A) I�ll be back in ten minutes.
B) I'll be back within ten minutes.

Thank you!

[2006]

Practically speaking, they usually mean the same thing, which is 'by the time 10 minutes pass, I will have returned'.

However, they can be interpreted to have different meanings.
A can be interpreted to mean 'I will return (in) (after) exactly 10 minutes.' (not in 9 or 8 or 7.....minutes)
B means 'I will return in 10 minutes or earlier.'

[yoshi-pooh]

Hi, 2006

Thanks for your reply.

Seems like it's a bit confusing if the same phrase can be interpreted in more than one way, though. Maybe I 'd better be more careful about what I mean to say when I say "I'll be back in ten minutes."

Thanks again.

yoshi-pooh