By vs. Until – English Grammar Exercises for B2
Read the financial advisor’s strict advice to a client regarding their budget and saving plan for a future house. Choose the best option to complete the sentences.
1 “You will need to continue renting your current, smaller apartment ______ you have saved enough for the initial deposit.”
(a) by
(b) until
(c) within
(d) at
2 “If we stick to this aggressive saving strategy, you will accumulate the $50,000 down payment ______ your 30th birthday.”
(a) until
(b) for
(c) by
(d) during
3 “I know it sounds harsh, but you must avoid all luxury purchases and international vacations ______ your mortgage is officially approved.”
(a) by
(b) until
(c) to
(d) in
4 “To improve your credit score, you have to pay off your outstanding credit card debt completely ______ the end of this year.”
(a) until
(b) during
(c) at
(d) by
5 “We are going to keep 30% of your monthly income locked in a high-yield savings account ______ the housing market stabilizes.”
(a) by
(b) within
(c) until
(d) since
6 “It is highly likely that the central bank will raise interest rates again ______ the first quarter of next year.”
(a) until
(b) to
(c) by
(d) as
7 “You must maintain this extremely frugal lifestyle ______ you finally sign the property deed.”
(a) by
(b) until
(c) in
(d) by the time
8 “Our primary financial goal is to get you completely debt-free ______ the time you start house hunting.”
(a) until
(b) by
(c) for
(d) at
9 “Please do not apply for any new loans or finance a new car ______ you have secured the keys to your new house.”
(a) until
(b) by
(c) by the time
(d) within
10 “By following this strict roadmap, your emergency fund will be fully funded ______ next November.”
(a) until
(b) during
(c) in
(d) by
11 “You can keep driving your old, reliable vehicle ______ it completely breaks down, saving you hundreds of dollars a month.”
(a) by
(b) until
(c) at
(d) within
12 “We must finalize all your tax documents and income proofs ______ Friday so the bank can process your loan application.”
(a) until
(b) in
(c) by
(d) to
13 “You will have to temporarily sacrifice dining out ______ December; however, you will reach your financial milestone ______ January.”
(a) by / until
(b) until / by
(c) by / by
(d) until / until
14 “I strongly advise that you hold off on buying any expensive furniture ______ the home inspection is 100% clear.”
(a) by
(b) within
(c) until
(d) at
15 “If you want to bid on that beautiful suburban house, you need to have the cash ready in your account ______ Monday morning.”
(a) until
(b) during
(c) by
(d) since
16 “Let’s keep your money invested in these safe, short-term bonds ______ you are absolutely ready to make the purchase.”
(a) by
(b) until
(c) to
(d) in
17 “Your partner needs to increase their monthly contributions so that the joint account hits the target ______ the summer.”
(a) until
(b) by
(c) for
(d) at
18 “We will delay making any formal offers on a property ______ the interest rates drop, which should hopefully happen ______ October.”
(a) by / until
(b) until / by
(c) by the time / as
(d) as / until
19 “I need you to carefully track every single daily expense ______ the end of the month so we can identify where to cut costs.”
(a) until
(b) during
(c) by
(d) to
20 “You must endure this tight budget ______ you turn 32, but I promise you will own a beautiful property ______ the time you are 35”
(a) by / until
(b) until / until
(c) until / by
(d) by / by
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (b) until
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Renting” is a continuous action. Until is used to show how long an ongoing state continues before it stops.
- Error Analysis: (a) by (Common Mistake: You cannot continuously rent “by” a time; by is for single, completed actions). (c) within (Structural Error: Requires a duration, like “within a year”). (d) at (Meaning Trap: “At” means doing it at exactly that moment, which contradicts the ongoing nature of renting).
2 (c) by
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Accumulate” acts as a completed achievement or milestone. It serves as a strict deadline, meaning the money will be saved at or before the 30th birthday.
- Error Analysis: (a) until (Common Mistake: You cannot continuously “accumulate” the final goal amount over the very second of your birthday). (b) for (Structural Error). (d) during (Meaning Trap: Lacks the deadline enforcement required for a financial milestone).
3 (b) until
- Why it is correct (The Key): When an action is negated (“avoid luxury purchases”), it creates a continuous state of not doing something. This state of restriction lasts until the condition (the mortgage is approved) is met.
- Error Analysis: (a) by (Common Mistake). (c) to (Structural Error). (d) in (Structural Error).
4 (d) by
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Pay off completely” is a momentary action of completion. The advisor sets a deadline for this final payment to happen.
- Error Analysis: (a) until (Common Mistake: You cannot continuously “pay off completely” over a whole year; the completion happens once). (b) during (Meaning Trap). (c) at (Meaning Trap: “At the end of the year” allows no flexibility, whereas “by” means it can be paid off earlier).
5 (c) until
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Keep 30% locked” is an ongoing state of saving. Until marks the end of that continuous period.
- Error Analysis: (a) by (Common Mistake). (b) within (Structural Error). (d) since (Structural Error: Refers to the starting point in the past, not the end point in the future).
6 (c) by
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Raise interest rates” is a punctual, completed action. The central bank will perform this action no later than the first quarter.
- Error Analysis: (a) until (Common Mistake: They will not continuously raise rates every single day up to that point). (b) to (Structural Error). (d) as (Structural Error).
7 (b) until
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Maintain a frugal lifestyle” is an ongoing process. The budget cuts will continue up to the time the deed is signed.
- Error Analysis: (a) by (Common Mistake). (c) in (Structural Error). (d) by the time (Meaning Trap: Cannot be used before a continuous action in this context).
8 (b) by
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Get you completely debt-free” is a punctual achievement or a targeted milestone. It must be completed before the house hunting starts.
- Error Analysis: (a) until (Common Mistake: Being debt-free is the end goal, not the continuous process of getting there). (c) for (Structural Error). (d) at (Meaning Trap).
9 (a) until
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Do not apply” creates a continuous state of restriction. You maintain this restriction up to the point you get the keys.
- Error Analysis: (b) by (Common Mistake). (c) by the time (Structural Error). (d) within (Structural Error).
10 (d) by
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Be fully funded” describes a completed state/achievement. It must reach this state before the November deadline.
- Error Analysis: (a) until (Common Mistake). (b) during (Meaning Trap). (c) in (Structural Error).
11 (b) until
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Keep driving” is an ongoing action.
- Error Analysis: (a) by (Common Mistake). (c) at (Meaning Trap). (d) within (Structural Error).
12 (c) by
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Finalize” is a verb of completion. Friday is the strict deadline for this task.
- Error Analysis: (a) until (Common Mistake). (b) in (Structural Error). (d) to (Structural Error).
13 (b) until / by
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Sacrifice dining out” is a continuous state of frugal living (until December). “Reach your milestone” is a conclusive achievement representing a deadline (by January).
- Error Analysis: (a) by / until (Meaning Trap: Reverses the logic). (c) by / by (Common Mistake). (d) until / until (Common Mistake).
14 (c) until
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Hold off on buying” creates a state of waiting or delaying an action. You wait until the condition (clear inspection) is met.
- Error Analysis: (a) by (Common Mistake). (b) within (Structural Error). (d) at (Structural Error).
15 (c) by
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Have the cash ready” is a completed state serving as a strict deadline before the bidding begins.
- Error Analysis: (a) until (Common Mistake). (b) during (Meaning Trap). (d) since (Structural Error).
16 (b) until
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Keep your money invested” is an ongoing state maintained up to the point of purchase.
- Error Analysis: (a) by (Common Mistake). (c) to (Structural Error). (d) in (Structural Error).
17 (b) by
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Hits the target” is a momentary milestone of achievement. It must be completed before the summer.
- Error Analysis: (a) until (Common Mistake: The account cannot continuously ‘hit’ the target). (c) for (Structural Error). (d) at (Meaning Trap).
18 (b) until / by
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Delay” initiates a state of waiting (until rates drop). The drop in rates is a punctual event expected to happen before a deadline (by October).
- Error Analysis: (a) by / until (Common Mistake). (c) by the time / as (Structural Error). (d) as / until (Structural Error).
19 (a) until
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Track every single expense” is a continuous daily habit. The tracking process lasts up to the end of the month.
- Error Analysis: (c) by (Common Mistake: You cannot continuously track a whole month’s expenses “by” a time; the tracking itself takes the whole month). (b) during (Meaning Trap). (d) to (Structural Error).
20 (c) until / by
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Endure this tight budget” is a continuous process of saving (until age 32). “Own a beautiful property” is the final, completed milestone representing the financial deadline (by age 35).
- Error Analysis: (a) by / until (Meaning Trap: Reverses the logic completely). (b) until / until (Common Mistake). (d) by / by (Common Mistake).
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
1 UNTIL (For the Process of Saving & Budgeting):
- Use Until to define the duration of an ongoing action, financial habit, or state. It answers the question: How long must I endure this restriction before I can stop?
- Key Verbs: keep (saving), wait, endure, maintain, delay, hold off, rent, track.
- Example: “You must rent an apartment until you have the deposit.” (The act of renting is a continuous process spanning years).
2 BY (For Financial Milestones & Deadlines):
- Use By to indicate a strict deadline for a completed action or a targeted milestone. It answers the question: What is the latest possible time this goal will be achieved? (It means “at or before”).
- Key Verbs: accumulate, pay off, achieve, secure, finalize, buy, own, hit the target.
- Example: “We must pay off the debt by age 30″ (The debt clearance is a single moment of completion that must happen before the 30th birthday arrives).
3 The “Restriction” Rule (Negative States):
- When a financial advisor tells you not to do something (e.g., “Do not buy a new car,” “Avoid luxury vacations”), it creates a continuous state of restriction and waiting. Therefore, you must use until.
- Example: “Do not apply for new credit cards until the house is yours.” (Maintain the state of waiting up to that exact moment).