Adverb or Relative clause

Question

Is "by the time"a subordinate conjunction used to introduce Adverb time clause as mentioned  at few sites. 
Ex-I reached there by the time he started. 
I feel the clause following "time"has "when/that"implied and does the work of a relative clause modifying the Noun "time".

JK2 · Answer

I reached there by [the {time he started}].

The relative clause he started integrates with the noun time to form the nominal time he started, which then is determined by the to form the definite noun phrase.

Note that he started is a relative clause in that it lacks the information as to when he started.

If he started at 11 o'clock, the sentence means:

I reached there by 11 o'clock.

Adverb or Relative clause

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