Until verwenden wir, wenn wir ausdrucken möchten, dass irgendetwas bis zu einem bestimmten Zeitpunkt andauern wird und dann aufhören wird, z.B.:

• Don't stay up for me - I won’t be home until late.
• You can borrow my car till (= until) Friday but then I need it back.
• I forgot my umbrella so I had to wait until the rain stopped.

By im Gegensatz dazu bedeutet, dass etwas vor oder spätestens bis zu einem bestimmten Termin erreicht sein wird:

• We have to be there by 8 pm, so we should leave by 7 pm at the latest.
• If I don’t finish this article by Sunday it will be too late for the printer.
• I’m sorry, I forgot to pay the bill, I promise to pay it by this afternoon.

Vergleichen Sie folgende Sätze:

• I need your camera until Friday so I can let you have it back by the weekend.
• Hallo honey, I’m working until 8 pm so I should be home by 8.30 pm.
• She learnt to play the violin until she was nine. By that age she could already play well.

Möchten Sie sich testen? Setzen Sie by oder until in den folgenden Sätzen ein:

1. I've been offered a new job. I have to decide _____ Monday.
2. Will you still be here when I get back from shopping?
   No, I'll probably have gone _____ then.
3. I think it’s best to wait _____ the weekend before making a decision.
4. Have you finished decorating your flat yet? Almost, I hope to finish it _____ the end of this month.
5. My new car arrives next week. I'm driving a hire-car _____ then.
6. I can’t pay you back _____  my check arrives but I’m sure I can pay you _____ Friday.
7. I'm planning to stay in London _____ Christmas.
8. I hope to lose four kilos _____ the end of the month.
9. Don't call me _____ you've got some good news!

So, how did you fare? If you would like another exercise on this subject send me a postcard or an email. Have a nice week, see you again next time!

Ihr Alan Connor

Lösung: 1. by 2. by 3. until 4. by 5. until 6. until, by 7. until 8. by 9. until