“UNTIL” v.
“BY”
I. UNTIL + specific time (can be expressed as a clause [mellékmondat])
Until: refers to a duration of time, a period of time
When “until” has a future reference, it means a period of time ranging from the present to a specific
time in the future and is used with continuous actions, states, or delays up to a point.
1. UNTIL + specific time
“I have time until Friday.”
This means: I have time between now and Friday.
---------- NOW →→→→→→→→→→→FRIDAY -----------------------
Have time don’t have time
(state)
2. UNTIL + specific time expressed in a clause
“I am working until Susan gets home.”
This means: I am working between now and the time at which Susan gets home.
-----------NOW →→→→→→→→→→→Susan gets home -----------------------
working not working
continuous action
3. UNTIL is very commonly used in a negative form.
Until in the negative can be used with continuous actions, states, and completed actions
(accomplishments/achievements)
“I’m not working until Susan gets home.”
This means: I will start working when Susan gets home.
-----------NOW -----------------------------Susan gets home→→→→→→→→→→→
not working working
continuous actions
“I won’t have time until Friday.
This means: I will only have time on or after Friday.
---------- NOW -----------------------FRIDAY →→→→→→→→→→→
Have time don’t have time
(state)
II. BY + specific time [this is often use for DEADLINES!]
By is used when we want to express achievements or accomplishments completed before a specific
time.
“WILL” is used in the main clause.
1. “I will finish my homework by 6 PM.”
This means that at some point between now and 6 PM, you will finish your homework, but we
don’t know exactly when. At 4? At 5? At 5:55? Who knows? But it will be done by 6 – that’s the main
thing.
Now →→→→→→X?→→→→→→ X?→→→→→→ X?→→→→→→ X?→ 6 PM
At some point you will complete the homework. Definitely
DONE!
*Can you say: “I will finish my homework until 6 PM”?
No!
Why not?
Finishing your homework is an achievement. This happens at one point in time; it is not continuous.
“Until” refers to a duration of time, so you can only use it with a continuous action or state verb. It
cannot be used with a completed action!
Can you say: “I won’t finish my homework until 6 PM”?
Yes!
Why?
Because you can say what achievements or accomplishments will not occur during a period of
time.
Which of the following are correct?
1. I won’t have time by next week.
INCORRECT. “By” is used to express achievements or accomplishments that occur before a
specific time.
2. I won’t have time until next week. 7. I’m water the plants by tomorrow.
Correct. 8. I’m watering the plants until tomorrow.
3. I’ll do it by Thursday. 9. I won’t send the email until you tell me
4. I won’t eat dessert until I finish my to.
dinner. 10. I’ll read the book until 7.
5. I’m playing the piano until 7. 11. I’ll read the book by 7.
6. I’m cooking dinner by 9. 12. I’ll call you until tomorrow.
Part 1: Match the Sentences with Their Meanings
Match the sentences (1–5) with the correct meaning (A–E):
1. I won’t call her until Monday.
2. I’ll be home by 7 o’clock.
3. We stayed until the rain stopped.
4. She won’t arrive until next week.
5. He will finish the report by tomorrow.
Meanings:
A. He will complete it tomorrow at the latest.
B. We didn’t leave while it was still raining.
C. She will arrive next week, not before.
D. I’ll arrive at or before 7.
E. I will not call her before Monday.
Part 2: Correct the Mistake (or Write ✓ if It’s Correct)
1. I won’t leave by 8.
2. We didn’t eat until 9 p.m.
3. He’ll finish until Friday.
4. She studied by midnight.
5. I’ll wait until you’re done.
Part 3: Choose the Correct Option
1. I’ll have the report ready (until / by) Friday.
2. They didn’t respond (until / by) the end of the day.
3. She worked (by / until) she was too tired to continue.
4. I won’t go (until / by) you say yes.
5. He promised to arrive (by / until) 10 a.m.
Part 4: Write Your Own Sentences
Write:
One sentence using “by” to show a deadline
One sentence using “until” with a negative verb
One sentence using “until” with a positive verb
Answer Key: By vs. Until
1. ❌ I won’t have time by next week.
Incorrect
“By” implies something will happen before next week, but "not having time" is a state, not a
completed action. "Until" is correct for states that last up to a point.
2. ✅ I won’t have time until next week.
Correct
✔ The speaker has no time before next week — "until" is correctly used with a negative verb.
3. ✅ I’ll do it by Thursday.
Correct
✔ This is a deadline — the task will be finished on or before Thursday.
4. ✅ I won’t eat dessert until I finish my dinner.
Correct
✔ This means dessert comes only after dinner is finished. Good use of "until" with a negative clause.
5. ✅ I’m playing the piano until 7.
Correct
✔ This is a duration — the playing continues up to 7.
6. ❌ I’m cooking dinner by 9.
Incorrect
“By” implies a deadline, so it fits better with a completed result, not an ongoing action.
7. ❌ I’m watering the plants by tomorrow.
Incorrect (and grammatically wrong)
“By” fits with a completed task, so “will water” is clearer.
8. ❌ I’m watering the plants until tomorrow.
Incorrect
✔ This suggests a long or ongoing watering, one that goes all night long. Generally one only waters
their plants for a few minutes to an hour.
9. ✅ I won’t send the email until you tell me to.
Correct
✔ The sending is delayed until a condition is met — this is a common, correct usage of “until.”
10. ✅ I’ll read the book until 7.
Correct (depending on intent)
✔ If the speaker is talking about reading from now up to 7, this is correct.
[But if they mean the book will be finished, then “by” is correct.] So:
I'll read until 7 → I'm stopping at 7.
I'll finish the book by 7 → I'm finishing before 7.
11. ✅ I’ll read the book by 7.
Correct
✔ This means the book will be completed no later than 7.
12. ❌ I’ll call you until tomorrow.
Incorrect
“Until” implies a continued action — calling someone repeatedly doesn't quite fit. "By tomorrow"
works to indicate the latest possible time the call will happen.
