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ESL forum >
Grammar and Linguistics > in five years?
in five years?
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my-english.edu.pl
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in five years?
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In five years time I will be able to ...
In five years I will be able to ...
Which sentence is correct? Are there any rules which can be used to explain it?
Thanks. 
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20 Mar 2009
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zoemorosini
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HELLO!
In five years � time is correct (use an apostrophe to show possession of the noun "time"):
a. This expression is used to point to a specific moment in the future from the moment of speaking
Ex. In five years � time he �ll be out of jail. (After 5 more years, beginning now)
Within five years � time is also a correct form:
a. This expression is used to focus on something happening before the 5 years are up
Ex. Within five years � time he �ll have committed other crimes (he �s expected to do bad things before 5 more years have passed)
In five years is correct:
a. This expression is used to point to a moment in the future, perhaps compared to the speaker �s moment of speaking or at another time in the future
Ex. In five years Santo will be 15 years old. (five years from this moment)
Ex. He told me I �ll be more successful in five years (five years from the moment HE spoke)
Ex. He had told me I would be more successful in five years, but he was wrong. (my conversation with him may have happened 10 years ago)
Hope this helps!
Your American friend
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20 Mar 2009
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my-english.edu.pl
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Zoemorosini thanks for reminding mi about using an apostrophe.
And big thanks for your exhaustive explanation. I think they mean
almost the same so they can be used interchangeably. Am I right?
Greeting from Poland 
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20 Mar 2009
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zoemorosini
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Pretty much. "In five years" is more flexible.
Sorry if my explanation was over the top. I tend to go on and on and on...
--zoemorosini |
20 Mar 2009
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Vickiii
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I thought it was a very good explanation. I didn �t notice the missing apostrophe - thank you for giving us the reason as well.
Cheers
V
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20 Mar 2009
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