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all this time/ all the time

 
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sabrinak



Joined: 28 Sep 2007
Posts: 146

PostPosted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 8:56 pm    Post subject: all this time/ all the time Reply with quote

Hello,

What does "all this time" mean in the following sentence?

I have loved you all this time.

Is it different in meaning from " all the time"?


Thank you for your help all the time.
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Bob S.



Joined: 29 Apr 2004
Posts: 1767
Location: So. Cal

PostPosted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 1:25 pm    Post subject: Re: all this time/ all the time Reply with quote

sabrinak wrote:
What does "all this time" mean in the following sentence?

I have loved you all this time.

Is it different in meaning from " all the time"?
This time refers to an understood length of time from the past up till now.

For example:
I thought Bill was outside playing ball, but it turns out he was in his room playing video games all this time. You will find him there still now.
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sabrinak



Joined: 28 Sep 2007
Posts: 146

PostPosted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 5:50 pm    Post subject: So all the time equals all this time? Reply with quote

Thank you for the reply.


Now I know "all this time."


Then can "all this time" replace "all the time"? Interchangeably?


Looking forward to your reply.
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Bob S.



Joined: 29 Apr 2004
Posts: 1767
Location: So. Cal

PostPosted: Tue Sep 02, 2008 9:19 am    Post subject: Re: So all the time equals all this time? Reply with quote

sabrinak wrote:
Then can "all this time" replace "all the time"? Interchangeably?
No.
All the time means past, present, and assumed future.
All this time means past and present up till now only. It says nothing about the future.
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