musictoenglish blog

Most Japanese people have a hard time understanding how to use the words “by” and “until”. This is probably because in Japanese they use one word,まで ,to express both of these words. So here’s a mini lesson with the explanation of how to use these words followed by a quiz.

By + (a time) = not later than
You have to finish the report by Friday.
(= on or before Friday, on Friday at the latest)

Until = to say how long a situation continues
Mary stayed in bed until 11:00 this morning
(= She got out of bed at 11:00)

Compare
I’ll be away on business next week but I’ll be back by Thursday
Make sure your home by midnight
.I’ll have it on your desk by noon tomorrow
It’s three more days until my vacation starts. I can’t wait
I have to baby sit until my Mom gets home from work.
I’ll be working until 11:pm so no drinks tonight.

Conversation
A: You look really stressed out. What’s the problem?
B: The manager wants this report finished by Friday。
A: Friday? You’re kidding
B: Yeah. There’s no way I’ll be able to get this done by Friday.
A: Unless you stay here until midnight all week,
B: The latest I’ll stay here is until 8:00 tops.
A: Did you ask him to extend the deadline?
B: Yeah. He threatened to can me if it wasn’t done by Friday.
A: That’s too bad.

Quiz
1． I'll keep phoning ____ you pay me.
2． It's open from 7am ____ 5pm.
3． It must be finished ____ Friday afternoon.
4． She'll be staying at the hotel ____ Friday.
5． She'll be here at five, ___ which time you mustn't leave the room.
6． Dinner will be ready ____ the time you get here.
7． I'll stay here ____ five o'clock.
8． She'll be here at five, ___ which time I expect you to have finished
9． I'll have it ready ____ four o'clock at the latest
10. The movie doesn’t start____________ 7:00.

Leave a comment if you have any questions or if you'd like the quiz corrected.