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Unit 120 · Conjunctions and prepositions

by ... and until ... by the time ...

Study

A

by ... = not later than:

›

I sent the documents today, so they should arrive by Monday.

(= on or before Monday, not later than Monday)

›

We'd better hurry. We have to be home by 5 o'clock.

(= at or before 5 o'clock, not later than 5 o'clock)

›

Where's Sarah? She should be here by now.

(= now or before now – so she should already be here)

This milk has to be used by 14 August.

B

We use until (or till) to say how long a situation continues:

›

A: Shall we go now? B: No, let's wait until it stops raining. or ... till it stops raining.

›

I was very tired this morning. I stayed in bed until half past ten. I didn't get up until half past ten.

Compare until and by:

Something continues until a time in the future: Something happens by a time in the future:
Joe will be away until Monday. (so he'll be back on Monday) Joe will be back by Monday. (= not later than Monday)
I'll be working until 11.30. (so I'll stop working at 11.30) I'll have finished my work by 11.30. (= I'll finish it not later than 11.30)
C

You can say 'by the time something happens':

›

It's too late to go to the bank now. By the time we get there, it will be closed.

(= it will close between now and the time we get there)

›

You'll need plenty of time at the airport. By the time you check in and go through security, it will be time for your flight.

(= check-in and security will take a long time)

›

Hurry up! By the time we get to the cinema, the film will already have started.

You can say 'by the time something happened' (for the past):

›

Karen's car broke down on the way to the party last night. By the time she arrived, most of the other guests had left.

(= it took her a long time to get there and most of the guests left during this time)

›

I had a lot of work to do yesterday evening. I was very tired by the time I finished.

(= it took me a long time to do the work, and I became more and more tired)

›

We went to the cinema last night. It took us a long time to find somewhere to park the car. By the time we got to the cinema, the film had already started.

You can say by then or by that time:

›

Karen finally got to the party at midnight, but by then most of the other guests had left. or ... but by that time, most of the other guests had left.

→ will be doing and will have done: Unit 24 → by (other uses): Units 42B, 60B, 128

Exercises (4)

0/4 exercises checked
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120.1

Complete the sentences with by.

  1. 1
    We have to be home not later than 5 o'clock.
    We have to be home 5 o'clock.example
  2. 2
    I have to be at the airport not later than 8.30.
    I have to be at the airport 8.30.
  3. 3
    Let me know not later than Saturday whether you can come to the party.
    Let me know Saturday whether you can come to the party.
  4. 4
    Please make sure that you're here not later than 2 o'clock.
    Please make sure that .
  5. 5
    If we leave now, we should arrive not later than lunchtime.
    If we leave now, .
120.2

Put in by or until.

  1. 1
    Steve has gone away. He'll be away Monday.example
  2. 2
    Sorry, but I must go. I have to be home 5 o'clock.
  3. 3
    According to the forecast, the bad weather will continue the weekend.
  4. 4
    I don't know whether to apply for the job or not. I have to decide Friday.
  5. 5
    I think I'll wait Thursday before making a decision.
  6. 6
    I'm still waiting for Tom to call me. He should have called me now.
  7. 7
    I need to pay this bill. It has to be paid tomorrow.
  8. 8
    Don't pay the bill today. Wait tomorrow.
  9. 9
    We haven't finished painting the house yet. We hope to finish Tuesday.
  10. 10
    'Will you still be in the office at 6.30?' 'No, I'll have gone home then.'
  11. 11
    I'm moving into my new flat next week. I'm staying with a friend then.
  12. 12
    I've got a lot of work to do. the time I finish, it will be time to go to bed.
  13. 13
    We have plenty of time. The film doesn't start 8.30.
  14. 14
    It is hoped that the new bridge will be completed the end of the year.
120.3

Use your own ideas to complete these sentences. Use by or until.

  1. 1
    David is away at the moment. He'll be away Monday.example
  2. 2
    David is away at the moment. He'll be back Monday.example
  3. 3
    I'm just going out. I won't be long. Wait here .
  4. 4
    I'm just going out. It's 4.30 now. I won't be long. I'll be back .
  5. 5
    If you want to apply for the job, your application must be received .
  6. 6
    My passport is valid .
  7. 7
    I missed the last bus and had to walk home. I didn't get home .
120.4

Read the situations and complete the sentences using By the time … .

  1. 1
    I was invited to a party, but I got there much later than I intended.
    , most of the other guests had left.example
  2. 2
    I intended to catch a train, but it took me longer than expected to get to the station.
    , my train had already left.
  3. 3
    I wanted to go shopping after work. But I finished work much later than expected.
    , it was too late to go shopping.
  4. 4
    I saw two men who looked as if they were trying to steal a car. I called the police, but it was some time before they arrived.
    , the two men had disappeared.
  5. 5
    We climbed a mountain and it took us a long time to get to the top. There wasn't much time to enjoy the view.
    , we had to come down again.