By and Until

Let’s see the following examples.

1. I sent the parcel on Wednesday morning. You should receive it by Friday. ( on or before Friday )
2. Where’s the teacher? He should be here by now. (now or before now)

Until means up to the point in time. In this case, until functions as a preposition.

For examples:

Until has another meaning. It means up to  the certain event. The event must be express in the form of a sentence. This sentence functions as a clause because it becomes a part of a sentence.

For examples:

Until is used to say how long a situation continues. Let’s see the following examples.

1. I’m not leaving until you give me the money. (I will continue staying and I will stop when you give me the money.) (Time Clause/Adverbial Clause)
2. This week I will have a mid semester test, so I study until ten or eleven o’clock every night. (Time Phrase)
3. We always study until two. (Time Word)

By and Until Exercises

In this exercise you have to complete the sentences with by or until.

1. I’ve been asked to marry him. I have to answer him … next Friday.
2. I’ll wait for you … 8 o’clock tomorrow morning.
3. If we leave on Monday, we should be in Gothenburg … Tuesday.
4. I hope to finish this project …. the end of this year.
5. We have to be at the airport … 7 o’clock.
6. Please call me … 9 o’clock tonight. Later than that, I will be sleeping.
7. The boy teased the girl … she cried.
8. Do I need to come here … 9 o’clock next Monday?
9. We must stay here …. everyone comes here.
10. When do I have to pay the tuition? ….. next Friday.

Exercise II

Answer the questions using by or until.

1. How long will you study English?
2. When do you think people should get married?
3. When is the best time for dinner?
4. How long do you think parents should feed their children?
5. When do you plan to have a job/set up your own business?

Other Exercises