Use of Ubtil

[musicgold]

Hi All,

Can you please review the following sentence for the use of 'Until'?

' In Jan 2003, MDC and Royal agreed not to compete with each other in their existing businesses UNTIL five years after MDC ceased to own 25% shares of Royal.

I am not sure about the clause after 'until'.

Thanks,

Eagle.

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by musicgold

Hi All,

Can you please review the following sentence for the use of 'Until'?

' In Jan 2003, MDC and Royal agreed not to compete with each other in their existing businesses UNTIL five years after MDC ceased to own 25% shares of Royal.

I am not sure about the clause after 'until'.

Thanks,

Eagle.

"Until" means "up to/before a specified time". In this case, the two entities cannot compete before a time 5 years after the specified condition.

[musicgold]

MikeNewYork,

Thanks.

I understand the meaning of the sentence. But, I am not sure whehter I should write
'until five year after MDC ceased to own 25% shares of Royal'
or ' until five years after MDC ceases to own 25% shares of Royal.

Can you please explain?

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by musicgold

MikeNewYork,

Thanks.

I understand the meaning of the sentence. But, I am not sure whehter I should write
'until five year after MDC ceased to own 25% shares of Royal'
or ' until five years after MDC ceases to own 25% shares of Royal.

Can you please explain?

I would use "ceases". Even though the agreement is in the past, the ceasing will be in the present when one gets to that time.