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