untill and by

[tufguy]

Hi guys,

Please check these sentences.

1) I won't be able to reach there by 5pm.

2) You will receive my resume by this evening.

Are these sentences correct, if yes then, can we use till/untill in place of by if not why I don't think it will change the meaning, can by be replaced by till/untill if not why?

 

[Raymott]

Yes, the sentences are correct - if you understand what they mean.
No you can't substitute 'by; with 'until'. That changes the meaning.

Can you explain what you think your sentences mean? Then it will be more easy to explain why you can't make that substitution.

 

[tufguy]

in the first sentence I want to say that I won't be able to reach at the desired place before or till 5pm, I mean if we are using by so that means we are giving a deadline, like in the second dentence "you will recieve resume before or till evening not later than this, whereas untill shows the continuty of action but the work that is done by "by" can also be done by "until".

 

[Raymott]

1. You can use 'until' in the first sentence. That is, "I won't be there until 5" means "I won't be there by 5" (broadly).
2. You can't use 'until' in this way in a positive sentence. "I will be there until 5" does not mean "I will be there by 5."
"I will be there until 5" means you'll be there up until 5, then you'll leave.
"I will be there by 5" means you'll arrive before 5, and says nothing about when you'll leave.

 

[Matthew Wai]

"I will be there by 5" means you'll arrive before 5.

My dictionaries say "by" can mean "not later than", then is it possible that the speaker will arrive at 5?

 

[bhaisahab]

My dictionaries say "by" can mean "not later than", then is it possible that the speaker will arrive at 5?

It's possible. It's also possible that s/he will arrive before that time.

 

[Roman55]

My dictionaries say "by" can mean "not later than", then is it possible that the speaker will arrive at 5?

I am not a teacher.

"At 5" isn't a length of time, it's a point in time.

"Not later than 5" includes all the time before 5 and none of the time after 5, so to all intents and purposes "by 5" means "before 5".

 

[Matthew Wai]

Do you mean "not later than 5" does not include 5?

 

[SoothingDave]

Do you mean "not later than 5" does not include 5?

5:00:00 would be the latest time included. 5:00:01 would not be "by 5."

 

[Tdol]

Do note the spelling: until, not [strike]untill[/strike], and till.