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Difference between” BY”and “UNTIL”
“By” is used to describe an action or event that happens on or before a particular moment.
E.g. We expect to know the judgment by the end of November.
“Until” is used to describe a state or situation in the period of time up to a particular moment.
E.g. The court proceedings are expected to last until November 1st week.
Prepositions are the words that precede a noun or a pronoun to show the relation or connect it to another element within the sentence.
By and Until are the two Prepositions of time, which are commonly misinterpreted.
By and Until are the two Prepositions of time, which are commonly misinterpreted.
However, the preposition ‘by‘ acts as a deadline in a sentence, indicating the time up to which something must be done or completed.
On the contrary, the word ‘until‘ focuses on the period, before the deadline.
By +(a time ) not later than.(Something happens by a time in the future).
Examples
1. Vivek will be back “by” *Monday ( not later than Monday).
2.I will have finished my work “by” 11.30( not later than 11.30)
3. I posted the letter as they should receive it “by” Monday.
4. Where is Sue? She should be here “by” now.
“Until” is used to say ( how long a situation continues, a time in the future)
Examples
1. Let’s go home now? No let’s wait “until” it stops raining.
2.I couldn’t get up this morning.I didn’t get up “until” half past ten.
3. I will be working “until” 11.30.
4. I will study “until” i finish all my lessons.
“By” is also used with “by the time”/ “by then”.
“By the time”something happens.(in present )
1. Its not worth going shopping.By the time we get to the shops, it will be closed.
2. By the time you receive this message, I will be in US.
3. Hurry up! By the time you reach a theatre, the film will have already started.
By the time something happened (for the past)
1.Jane’s car broke down on the way to the party last night. By the time she arrived, most of the other guests had gone.
2.When i reached the station at midnight, by then the train had already left .
3. Last night we went to a friend’s house, by the time we reached the party was over.