"Unusual" past reference.

0Quite frequently, I come across examples of "by this time" being used to refer to the past.02br
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00Examples:02br
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001.01i01b00By this time02b00, the schools frequented by Roman Catholics in Ireland were also largely...02i02br
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002. 01i00 (we were in Hyde Park 01b01u00by02u02b00 01b01u00this02u02b00 01b01u00time02u02b00)02i02br
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003. 01i01b00By02b00 01b00this02b00 01b00time02b00 they had left the classroom and were walking down one of the...02i02br
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00Have any of you also noticed that use?02br
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00Same with examples of "now * was" used for past reference.02br
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01i004. Jake walked in the door. 01b00Now he was02b00 really angry.02i02br
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01i01b005. he02b00'd bring girls with him to bolster his ego. 01b00Now02b00 01b00he02b00 01b00was02b00 someone whose only real interest in pop music 01b00was02b00 t01b00he02b02i02br
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006. The yellow steps rose in steep flights but 01b00now02b00 01b00it02b00 01b00was02b00 clear that when she reached the top she would also 02br
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00.........02br
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00I find that I like such use.0-