ENGLISH
REFERENCE

at this point

prep. phr..
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford

prep. phr.. at the current time or stage of a process, especially when things have changed or a decision is needed.

prep. phr.. a temporal or sequential marker indicating the current stage of a progression; often used to signal a transition or to evaluate a situation based on current evidence.


SIMPLE

At this point, we don't need any more help.

CONTEXTUAL

We have tried every possible solution, so at this point, we should probably call a professional.

COMPLEX

At this point in the negotiations, it remains unclear whether either party is willing to make the necessary concessions to reach a final agreement.

Usage

often used at the beginning of a sentence to set the context for the current status of a situation.

Teaching tip

contrast with 'now' to show that 'at this point' emphasizes the stage of a process or a specific moment in a sequence of events.

Pitfall

in this pointat this pointthe preposition 'at' is used for specific moments or stages in time, whereas 'in' is used for physical locations or enclosed spaces.

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