Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[perfectera]

Hello.
Please let me know if there is any difference between 'in a year' and 'a year later', or no difference in the case below? I thought it is the same.

He had been dating Sarah, but fell in love with other girl 'in a year' (or 'a year later').

Thanks for your help!

[jumbonaut]

Your example presents two different cases.

"He fell in love with another girl in a year" does not give you any specific time. It should more likely be replaced "within a year" meaning that at some point during the year, he fell in love.

"He fell in love with another girl a year later" gives a specific time when he fell in love with this girl. A full year has gone by that it took him to find this love.

Even in a future context, they still mean slightly different things.

"We will own our house in a year." This says that one year from now, we will own our house.

"We will own our house a year later." This would only be used if you set it up with another time frame first...
--- "Sally will own her house in October of 2010."
--- "We will own our house a year later." (meaning October of 2011).
_________________
Pat Mallon
www.englishnation.net

[perfectera]

Hi Pat.
I see.
Thanks for your help!