[Grammar] by/until

[hhtt21]

Would you please explain the difference between "by" and "until" in time meaning?

Do 1 and 2 mean the same?

1. You have to do your homework by Monday.

2. You have to do your homework until Monday.


Self-made.

 

[jutfrank]

No, not at all. Those two words are very different in meaning, which means the sentences also differ greatly.

The sentence that expresses what you mean is sentence 1. On Monday your homework must be done. To put it simply, by = before

I'm surprised you haven't learnt how to use until yet, hhtt21. I'm not going to explain it here. Look it up in a good reference book.

 

[hhtt21]

No, not at all. Those two words are very different in meaning, which means the sentences also differ greatly.

The sentence that expresses what you mean is sentence 1. On Monday your homework must be done. To put it simply, by = before

I'm surprised you haven't learnt how to use until yet, hhtt21. I'm not going to explain it here. Look it up in a good reference book.

But don't "by" include the deadline mentioned whereas "before" don't include the deadline mentioned?

 

[Tdol]

You have until Monday to do your homework. (Change of meaning)

 

[hhtt21]

You have until Monday to do your homework. (Change of meaning)

Is "until Monday" "time adverb" or "time adverbial phrase"?

Thank you.

 

[jutfrank]

Is "until Monday" "time adverb" or "time adverbial phrase"?

What's the difference?

 

[hhtt21]

What's the difference?

In this case? There might be no difference in this case, an adverb can be one-worded whereas, I think, a phrase is at least two.

I think an "adverbial phrase" is a phrase that acts, or functions, or works, as an adverb.

 

[jutfrank]

Then you've answered your own question.

 

[hhtt21]

You have until Monday to do your homework. (Change of meaning)

Why is it that adverb until should be between the auxiliary verb and the infinitive phrase since "you have to do your homework until Monday" is wrong?

 

[Tdol]

Why is it that adverb until should be between the auxiliary verb and the infinitive phrase since "you have to do your homework until Monday" is wrong?

Read the meaning- the soul of the language is not found in rules, many of which are inaccurate.

 

[hhtt21]

There is no auxiliary verb in that sentence.


You have a period of time (from now until Monday) in which to do your homework.

How can I use "until monday" with the auxiliary "have to"?

 

[hhtt21]

Have to is not an auxiliary.

You don't have to hand the work in until Monday. Is that what you are looking for?

Yes, but what is wrong with "You have to do your homework until Monday"?

Thank you.

 

[GoesStation]

Yes, but what is wrong with "You have to do your homework until Monday"?

Please remember not to include "Thank you" in your posts. I spend extra time deleting it from the quoted message, and you already have it in your signature line.

You could say "You have to work on this until Monday." That means I want you to work on it every day from now through Sunday. "Until" has a sense of continuity from now to the stated time.

That's not what you mean about homework. You mean that Monday is the deadline. You don't care exactly when I do the homework; you just want to be sure that when Monday comes, I will have completed it. That's what the preposition "by" tells us.

 

[Rover_KE]

Yes, but what is wrong with "You have to do your homework until Monday"?

[STRIKE]Thank you[/STRIKE] Just click Thank after you get a reply.

That means 'You must spend all your time doing your homework and nothing else until Monday'.

However, by switching some words round you get what you mean to say:

"You have until Monday to do your homework".