"Up to this time" is a phrase used to refer to a specific period of time prior to the present moment. It is an idiomatic expression that indicates an activity, event, or situation has occurred or been true until the present point in time being referenced. The phrase is often used to highlight a continuous or ongoing status that remains in effect up until the present.
When used in conversation or written language, "up to this time" serves as a temporal marker, marking the boundary or limit of a particular period. It emphasizes that whatever is being discussed or described had been valid, relevant, or applicable leading up to the current point. It can indicate that prior to the present, certain conditions or circumstances were in place, decisions were made, or actions were taken.
For example, if a sentence mentions, "Up to this time, John had never missed a single payment," it suggests that until now, John had always been punctual in making his payments. It emphasizes the continuity of John's record of timely payments leading up to the current moment.
In summary, "up to this time" is a phrase that signifies the duration or relevance of a situation, event, or action that prevailed until the specified moment of reference in the present. It denotes the continuity of something up to that point and helps establish the temporal context within a discussion or narrative.
