① at the age of意為“在……歲時(shí)”,表示一個(gè)時(shí)間點(diǎn)。
He began to study English at the age of three. 他在3歲時(shí)就開始學(xué)英語(yǔ)了。
She went abroad with her father at the age of ten. 她10歲時(shí)同父親一起去國(guó)外了。
② by the age of意為“在……歲之前”,表示截止到某一時(shí)間之前,如果by the age of在句中指過去時(shí)間,謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞要用過去完成時(shí)。
He had read many novels by the age of fifteen. 在15歲前他就讀過許多小說(shuō)了。
By the age of ten,she had learned to play the violin. 在10歲前,她就學(xué)會(huì)拉小提琴了。