until or by

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Nathan Mckane

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Which one is better to use?

You'll be fine by/until tonight.
 

Nathan Mckane

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Thanks indeed.Would you plz elaborate? In which specific contexts?
 

bhaisahab

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Thanks indeed.Would you plz elaborate? In which specific contexts?
"You'll be fine by tonight" means you are not fine now but by the time the night falls, you will be alright.
You'll be fine from tonight" means that until tonight you will not be fine, from tonight onwards you will be fine.
 

TheParser

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Which one is better to use?

You'll be fine by/until tonight.

********** NOT A TEACHER **********

Hello, Mr. McKane.

(1) Of course, I may be completely wrong, but this is how I interpret your

sentences.

(2) A patient and a doctor are talking:



"I feel very sick. Don't worry, Mr. Smith. Just take this medicine

and I guarantee you that you will feel fine by tonight. Thank you

so much doctor. It's now 1 p.m. I shall look forward to feeling better

when nighttime comes."

(3) A doctor and a patient are talking:

"Mrs. Jones, I want you to start taking this medicine right now. Oh,

Doctor, I do not really need any medicine. I feel fine. Listen, Mrs.

Jones, if you do not take this medicine, you will feel fine until tonight,

and then you will suddenly become very sick."

Thank you
 
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emsr2d2

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"You'll be fine by tonight" means you are not fine now but by the time the night falls, you will be alright.
You'll be fine from tonight" means that until tonight you will not be fine, from tonight onwards you will be fine.

The original post quoted "by" and "until". I agree entirely with Bhaisahab's example for "by".

As far as "You'll be fine until tonight" goes, this means that you are now fine and you will continue to be fine but suggests that tonight you will stop being fine.
 

bhaisahab

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The original post quoted "by" and "until". I agree entirely with Bhaisahab's example for "by".

As far as "You'll be fine until tonight" goes, this means that you are now fine and you will continue to be fine but suggests that tonight you will stop being fine.
Yes, I agree. I don't know where I got "from" from.:oops:
 
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