until
until — preposition
1. used to say that an action, situation, or state continues up to a specific time
used to say that an action, situation, or state continues up to a specific time and then ends or changes at that point.
The shop stays open until 8 p.m. every evening.
until + clock time
Shanti stayed at school until four o'clock that afternoon.
The Arantes family's flight discount is valid until the end of this month only.
Please keep your ticket until the end of the journey.
The children played in the garden until sunset.
文法句型
until + [time noun]
until + [event noun/gerund]
用法筆記
The noun or noun phrase after 'until' marks the exact cutting-off point — the action stops when that moment is reached. To express completion by a deadline, use 'by' instead of 'until'.
常見錯誤
2. paired with a negative word to indicate that something cannot happen until a spe
paired with a negative word to indicate that something cannot happen until a specific moment arrives — the event must wait for that moment.
The train does not arrive until 10:30 this morning.
does not + until + clock time
Liam won't finish his homework until late tonight.
The results are not due until next Friday afternoon.
Please do not open the gift until tomorrow morning.
The guests will not arrive until dinner is ready.
- not till
informal version; common in casual speech
- not ... before
more direct; lacks the implication of lateness that 'not until' carries
- as early as
opposite implication — suggests something happens sooner rather than later
文法句型
not ... until + [time/event noun]
用法筆記
Frequently paired with a negative auxiliary (don't, won't, can't, isn't). The negative + 'until' combination carries a strong hint that the speaker thinks the time is later than expected.
常見錯誤
3. used to show how far something goes in space or how far a person moves, reaching
used to show how far something goes in space or how far a person moves, reaching a particular point and then stopping.
Follow this path until the old stone bridge, then cross the stream.
until + landmark noun
The hiking trail runs until the lake shore and ends at a wooden sign.
We drove until the end of the highway and rested.
The fence extends until the neighbour's driveway, then turns sideways.
Caleb walked until the corner of the street and waited.
- from
marks the starting point rather than the endpoint of a spatial range
文法句型
until + [place noun]
用法筆記
This spatial sense is less common than the temporal senses. In most cases, 'to' or 'as far as' sounds more natural for distance ('walk to the corner'), but 'until' emphasizes that the movement ends completely at that point.
常見錯誤
until — conjunction
1. connecting two clauses, where the action or situation in the main clause continu
connecting two clauses, where the action or situation in the main clause continues only up to the moment described in the 'until' clause, at which point it changes or ends — this is the everyday sense, without special emphasis on whether the action was uninterrupted.
Rania waited until her brother came home from school.
main clause + until + subject + verb (simple past)
We will stay here until the storm passes tonight.
Keep stirring the soup until it begins to boil.
Ilan did not leave the office until his boss told him to go.
Until you pay the full amount, the item will not be shipped.
- till
informal equivalent, very common in speech
- up to the point when
more emphatic and less common; used for added clarity
文法句型
[main clause] + until + [subject + verb]
until + [subject + verb], [main clause]
用法筆記
When the main clause refers to the future, use the present tense (not future) in the clause after 'until': 'I'll wait until she arrives' (not 'will arrive'). This is the most common conjunction sense of 'until' in everyday English.
常見錯誤
2. used in formal writing to stress that a state or activity continues without any
used in formal writing to stress that a state or activity continues without any break or interruption throughout the whole period leading up to a later event — unlike the general sense, this one focuses on the continuous, unbroken nature of the duration itself.
The contract remains in effect until both parties agree to end it.
remains + until + both parties + verb (formal context)
The loud music from the flat upstairs continued until a neighbour called the police.
The building stood empty until a new owner bought it last year.
This rule will apply until further notice is given by the committee.
Until such time as the court reviews the evidence, no decision about the case will be made.
- upon
marks an immediate change at a point, rather than continuous duration up to it
文法句型
until such time as + [clause]
[main clause] + until + [clause]
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (conjunction): sense 1 simply marks the endpoint of a situation; sense 2 stresses that the situation continued uninterrupted throughout the whole period leading to that endpoint. Common with stative verbs like 'remain', 'stand', 'continue', 'stay'.