By vs. Until – English Grammar Exercises for B2
The Latecomer – Texting ultimatums to a chronically late friend while waiting at a coffee shop.
Choose the most appropriate word or phrase to complete each sentence. Pay attention to whether the verb describes a continuous action (waiting/staying) or an action completed at a specific deadline (arriving/finishing).
1 I will patiently sit at this corner table ______ 3:00 PM, but then I am officially leaving!
(a) until
(b) by
(c) to until
(d) by the time
2 You promised me you would arrive at the cafe ______ 2:30 PM at the latest. Where are you?
(a) by
(b) until
(c) on
(d) during
3 I am absolutely not ordering any food or drinks ______ you finally show up.
(a) by
(b) until
(c) by the time
(d) to
4 Please assure me that you will finish your errands ______ 4:00 PM so we can actually hang out.
(a) until
(b) by
(c) at the time
(d) untill
5 I kept calling your phone non-stop ______ my battery completely died.
(a) until
(b) by
(c) by the time
(d) until that
6 If you are not sitting in this chair right across from me ______ 4:15 PM, I am drinking your smoothie.
(a) until
(b) at
(c) by
(d) to
7 I will hold this reservation ______ the waiter physically forces me to give up the table.
(a) by
(b) by the time
(c) untill
(d) until
8 ______ the time you finally get here, my iced latte will have completely melted!
(a) Until
(b) By
(c) In
(d) At
9 I refuse to accept your terrible apologies ______ you actually start respecting my time.
(a) by
(b) until
(c) during
(d) by the time
10 The barista said the kitchen closes soon, so we definitely need to order our pastries ______ 5:00 PM.
(a) until
(b) for
(c) since
(d) by
11 I had patiently read half of my novel ______ I realized you were probably not coming.
(a) by the time
(b) until
(c) by
(d) to
12 You had better send me a text explaining your lateness ______ now!
(a) until
(b) to
(c) by
(d) at
13 I am going to stare angrily at this front door ______ you walk through it.
(a) by
(b) for
(c) until
(d) by the time
14 If I don’t see your face ______ sunset, I am permanently blocking your number.
(a) until
(b) by
(c) on
(d) during
15 It was not ______ you casually strolled in an hour late that I completely lost my temper.
(a) by
(b) until
(c) when
(d) to
16 I expected you to be here ______ now! What on earth is taking so long?
(a) until
(b) in
(c) by
(d) at
17 The cafe manager kindly let me occupy the booth ______ closing time, despite your absence.
(a) by
(b) by the time
(c) to
(d) until
18 ______ you learn to manage your schedule properly, I am not making any more plans with you.
(a) By
(b) By the time
(c) Until
(d) For
19 Please tell me that you will have parked your car ______ the time I finish typing this message.
(a) until
(b) by
(c) at
(d) in
20 I stood outside in the freezing rain ______ I couldn’t feel my toes anymore, all because of your poor time management.
(a) by
(b) by the time
(c) until
(d) to
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (a) until
- Why it is correct: The verb “sit” describes a continuous action. This action will continue up to a specific point in time (3:00 PM) and then stop.
- Distractor Analysis: (b) “by” is a common mistake (used for deadlines of instantaneous actions, not continuous ones). (d) “by the time” is a strong distractor (it must be followed by a clause, not a specific time). (c) “to until” is a structural error (redundant prepositions).
2 (a) by
- Why it is correct: “Arrive” is an instantaneous/completed action. “By 2:30 PM” establishes a strict deadline (no later than 2:30 PM).
- Distractor Analysis: (b) “until” is a common mistake (you cannot continuously “arrive” for a period of time). (d) “during” is a strong distractor (incorrect meaning for this context). (c) “on” is a structural error (time requires ‘at’ or ‘by’).
3 (b) until
- Why it is correct: The negative state of “not ordering” will be maintained continuously up to the moment the friend finally shows up.
- Distractor Analysis: (a) “by” is a common mistake. (c) “by the time” is a strong distractor. (d) “to” is a structural error.
4 (b) by
- Why it is correct: “Finish” is a completed action that requires a deadline. The errands must be done no later than 4:00 PM.
- Distractor Analysis: (a) “until” is a common mistake. (c) “at the time” is a strong distractor. (d) “untill” is a structural error (misspelling).
5 (a) until
- Why it is correct: “Kept calling” is a continuous action that lasted right up to the point the phone battery died.
- Distractor Analysis: (b) “by” is a common mistake. (c) “by the time” is a strong distractor. (d) “until that” is a structural error.
6 (c) by
- Why it is correct: This is an ultimatum: The action of “sitting in this chair” must be accomplished before or at the deadline of 4:15 PM.
- Distractor Analysis: (a) “until” is a common mistake. (b) “at” is a strong distractor (‘at’ implies exactly 4:15, while ‘by’ establishes a deadline which fits the threatening tone better). (d) “to” is a structural error.
7 (d) until
- Why it is correct: To “hold this reservation” is a continuous action extending to a certain limit.
- Distractor Analysis: (a) “by” is a common mistake. (b) “by the time” is a strong distractor. (c) “untill” is a structural error.
8 (b) By
- Why it is correct: The structure “By the time + Subject + Verb” means “No later than the time…”. The ice will have completely melted before or exactly at the deadline of the friend’s arrival.
- Distractor Analysis: (a) “Until” is a common mistake (“Until the time” is not a natural collocation here). (d) “At” is a strong distractor. (c) “In” is a structural error.
9 (b) until
- Why it is correct: The “refusal” is maintained continuously up to the point the friend starts respecting their time.
- Distractor Analysis: (a) “by” is a common mistake. (d) “by the time” is a strong distractor. (c) “during” is a structural error.
10 (d) by
- Why it is correct: The action of “ordering” must be completed before the deadline of 5:00 PM.
- Distractor Analysis: (a) “until” is a common mistake. (b) “for” is a strong distractor. (c) “since” is a structural error.
11 (b) until
- Why it is correct: The action of “reading” happened continuously up to the exact moment of realization.
- Distractor Analysis: (c) “by” is a common mistake. (a) “by the time” is a strong distractor. (d) “to” is a structural error.
12 (c) by
- Why it is correct: “By now” is a fixed phrase meaning “no later than this moment / already.” It sets “now” as the deadline.
- Distractor Analysis: (a) “until” is a common mistake. (d) “at” is a strong distractor. (b) “to” is a structural error.
13 (c) until
- Why it is correct: To “stare” is a continuous action that will only end when the friend walks through the door.
- Distractor Analysis: (a) “by” is a common mistake. (d) “by the time” is a strong distractor. (b) “for” is a structural error.
14 (b) by
- Why it is correct: Sunset is the deadline for the action of “seeing your face” to be completed.
- Distractor Analysis: (a) “until” is a common mistake. (d) “during” is a strong distractor. (c) “on” is a structural error.
15 (b) until
- Why it is correct: The emphatic structure “It was not until… that…” means “not before a certain time or event.”
- Distractor Analysis: (a) “by” is a common mistake. (c) “when” is a strong distractor. (d) “to” is a structural error.
16 (c) by
- Why it is correct: “Be here by now” sets the current moment as the deadline for the friend’s arrival.
- Distractor Analysis: (a) “until” is a common mistake. (d) “at” is a strong distractor. (b) “in” is a structural error.
17 (d) until
- Why it is correct: To “occupy” the booth is a continuous action lasting up to closing time.
- Distractor Analysis: (a) “by” is a common mistake. (b) “by the time” is a strong distractor. (c) “to” is a structural error.
18 (c) Until
- Why it is correct: The state of “not making any more plans” will continue uninterrupted up to the point the friend learns to manage their schedule.
- Distractor Analysis: (a) “By” is a common mistake. (b) “By the time” is a strong distractor. (d) “For” is a structural error.
19 (b) by
- Why it is correct: Combined with “the time” to form “By the time” (No later than). The action of parking (will have parked) must be completed before this time marker.
- Distractor Analysis: (a) “until” is a common mistake. (d) “in” is a strong distractor. (c) “at” is a structural error.
20 (c) until
- Why it is correct: “Stood” is a continuous action that lasted up to the point of losing feeling in the toes.
- Distractor Analysis: (a) “by” is a common mistake. (b) “by the time” is a strong distractor. (d) “to” is a structural error.
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
To clearly distinguish between By and Until, simply ask yourself: “Is this action CONTINUOUS, or is it COMPLETED by a deadline?”
1 UNTIL
- Nature: Used for an action or state that is CONTINUOUS and stops at a specific point in time.
- Common verbs: wait, stay, sit, sleep, work, continue, or negative continuous states (not ordering, refuse to).
- Example: I will wait here until 3 PM. (The waiting is continuous and stops at 3 PM).
2 BY
- Nature: Used to establish a DEADLINE. The action does not need to be continuous; it just needs to be COMPLETED before or exactly at that time.
- Common verbs: arrive, finish, submit, leave, return.
- Example: You must arrive by 3 PM. (It doesn’t matter when you arrive, as long as the arrival is completed before or at 3 PM).
- Structural Note: By the time + Subject + Verb (Meaning: No later than the time…). This structure is used to talk about an action that will be completed before another event in the future or past.