By vs. Until – English Grammar Exercises for B2
Read the news anchor’s urgent broadcast regarding the incoming winter storm carefully. Choose the best option to complete the sentences.
1 “Good evening, citizens. Meteorologists confirm that heavy snow will continuously fall ______ midnight tonight.”
(a) by
(b) until
(c) within
(d) at
2 “The city council expects all major highways and public roads to be fully cleared of snow ______ 6:00 AM tomorrow.”
(a) until
(b) for
(c) by
(d) during
3 “We strongly advise everyone to remain safely indoors ______ the local authorities issue an official all-clear signal.”
(a) by
(b) until
(c) to
(d) in
4 “Do not panic; the worst of the blizzard will have completely passed ______ the time you wake up.”
(a) until
(b) by
(c) at
(d) during
5 “Please do not attempt to drive your vehicle on the icy roads ______ visibility significantly improves.”
(a) by
(b) within
(c) until
(d) since
6 “Emergency utility crews promise to restore the damaged power grid ______ Sunday evening at the absolute latest.”
(a) until
(b) in
(c) at
(d) by
7 “This severe winter weather warning will be strictly in effect ______ 9:00 PM on Friday.”
(a) by
(b) until
(c) by the time
(d) to
8 “Residents should gather enough food, water, and emergency supplies ______ the storm officially hits the coast.”
(a) until
(b) by
(c) for
(d) at
9 “All public transportation systems, including buses and trains, will be entirely suspended ______ further notice.”
(a) by / by
(b) until
(c) by
(d) to
10 “You need to ensure your emergency generator is fully fueled ______ the temperature drops dangerously below freezing.”
(a) until
(b) during
(c) in
(d) by
11 “Keep your battery-powered radios tuned to this emergency channel ______ the broadcast officially concludes.”
(a) by
(b) until
(c) at
(d) within
12 “We anticipate that the massive city snowplows will have reached the downtown area ______ noon.”
(a) until
(b) for
(c) by
(d) at
13 “According to the radar, temperatures will dangerously stay below zero ______ the end of the weekend.”
(a) until
(b) in
(c) by
(d) to
14 “If you are currently at work, we advise you to head home ______ 3:00 PM to avoid being trapped in the worst of the storm.”
(a) until
(b) within
(c) at
(d) by
15 “The state governor has ordered all public schools to remain closed ______ the roads are officially deemed safe for travel.”
(a) by
(b) until
(c) in
(d) by the time
16 “Make sure all loose outdoor furniture is securely tied down or brought inside ______ the hurricane-force winds arrive.”
(a) until
(b) during
(c) by
(d) since
17 “Due to the zero-visibility conditions, emergency rescue helicopters cannot be deployed ______ the heavy fog finally lifts.”
(a) by
(b) until
(c) to
(d) within
18 “The river level is rising rapidly, and experts warn it will reach the critical flood stage ______ midnight.”
(a) until
(b) by
(c) by the time
(d) as
19 “You must delay your travel plans ______ Sunday, as the Department of Transportation will have the primary routes salted and safe ______ then.”
(a) by / until
(b) until / by
(c) by / by
(d) until / until
20 “Continue checking our official weather app for updates ______ 10 PM; the dangerous winds should completely die down ______ that time.”
(a) by / until
(b) until / until
(c) until / by
(d) by / by
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (b) until
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Fall continuously” is an ongoing action. Until marks the end of this continuous weather event.
- Error Analysis: (a) by (Common Mistake: Snow cannot continuously fall by a time; by is for single, completed actions). (c) within (Structural Error: Requires a duration, like “within 3 hours”). (d) at (Meaning Trap: “At” means the snow starts exactly at midnight, contradicting the context of an ongoing storm).
2 (c) by
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Be fully cleared” is a completed state or achievement. 6:00 AM acts as a strict deadline for this cleanup task to be finished.
- Error Analysis: (a) until (Common Mistake: The roads cannot be continuously “fully cleared” over a period of time). (b) for (Structural Error). (d) during (Meaning Trap: Lacks the deadline enforcement needed for safety updates).
3 (b) until
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Remain indoors” is a continuous state of staying inside. Citizens must maintain this state up to the point the signal is issued.
- Error Analysis: (a) by (Common Mistake). (c) to (Structural Error). (d) in (Structural Error).
4 (b) by
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Will have passed” is the Future Perfect tense, denoting a completed action before a specific time in the future. “By the time” introduces the deadline.
- Error Analysis: (a) until (Common Mistake: A storm cannot continuously “have passed”). (c) at (Meaning Trap: “At the time” does not carry the necessary perfect-tense “already completed” deadline nuance). (d) during (Structural Error).
5 (c) until
- Why it is correct (The Key): When a punctual action is negated (“do not attempt to drive”), it creates a continuous state of waiting. You must wait until the condition (visibility improves) is met.
- Error Analysis: (a) by (Common Mistake). (b) within (Structural Error). (d) since (Structural Error: Refers to the starting point in the past).
6 (d) by
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Restore the power grid” is a momentary action of completion. The utility crew sets a deadline for this to happen.
- Error Analysis: (a) until (Common Mistake: Power cannot be continuously restored for days). (b) in (Structural Error). (c) at (Meaning Trap: “At” means exactly at that moment, whereas “by” means it could happen earlier).
7 (b) until
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Be in effect” is an ongoing state. The warning lasts continuously up to 9:00 PM.
- Error Analysis: (a) by (Common Mistake). (c) by the time (Structural Error: Grammatically incorrect before a specific time like 9:00 PM). (d) to (Structural Error).
8 (b) by
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Gather supplies” is a punctual achievement representing a strict deadline before the storm arrives.
- Error Analysis: (a) until (Common Mistake: You shouldn’t continuously gather supplies while the storm hits). (c) for (Structural Error). (d) at (Meaning Trap: Gathering them exactly at the moment the storm hits is too late).
9 (b) until
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Be entirely suspended” is a continuous state. “Until further notice” is a fixed formal phrase indicating this state will continue indefinitely until a new announcement is made.
- Error Analysis: (a) by / by (Structural Error). (c) by (Common Mistake). (d) to (Structural Error).
10 (d) by
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Ensure your generator is fueled” denotes a completed preparatory action. It must reach this state before the temperature drops.
- Error Analysis: (a) until (Common Mistake). (b) during (Meaning Trap). (c) in (Structural Error).
11 (b) until
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Keep your radios tuned” is explicitly an ongoing action of listening.
- Error Analysis: (a) by (Common Mistake). (c) at (Meaning Trap). (d) within (Structural Error).
12 (c) by
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Will have reached” describes a completed state/achievement serving as a strict deadline for the snowplows.
- Error Analysis: (a) until (Common Mistake). (b) for (Structural Error). (d) at (Meaning Trap: “At” is acceptable for general time, but “by” perfectly pairs with Future Perfect to mean “no later than”).
13 (a) until
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Stay below zero” is a continuous state maintained throughout the weekend.
- Error Analysis: (c) by (Common Mistake). (b) in (Structural Error). (d) to (Structural Error).
14 (d) by
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Head home” (leave work to go home) is a punctual action. 3:00 PM is the deadline for this action to happen safely.
- Error Analysis: (a) until (Common Mistake: You cannot continuously “head home” over several hours). (b) within (Structural Error). (c) at (Meaning Trap).
15 (b) until
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Remain closed” establishes a continuous state of closure. This state lasts until the roads are safe.
- Error Analysis: (a) by (Common Mistake). (c) in (Structural Error). (d) by the time (Meaning Trap).
16 (c) by
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Is securely tied down” is a momentary action of completion (preparation). It must be finalized before the winds arrive.
- Error Analysis: (a) until (Common Mistake). (b) during (Meaning Trap: Tying them down during the winds is dangerous). (d) since (Structural Error).
17 (b) until
- Why it is correct (The Key): The negative “cannot be deployed” creates a continuous state of grounding. The helicopters will remain grounded until the fog lifts.
- Error Analysis: (a) by (Common Mistake). (c) to (Structural Error). (d) within (Structural Error).
18 (b) by
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Reach flood stage” is a specific milestone or event. It is projected to happen before or exactly at midnight.
- Error Analysis: (a) until (Common Mistake: A river cannot continuously “reach” a stage). (c) by the time (Structural Error). (d) as (Structural Error).
19 (b) until / by
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Delay your travel plans” implies maintaining a state of waiting (until Sunday). “Have the routes salted” is the completed, final cleanup representing a deadline (by then).
- Error Analysis: (a) by / until (Meaning Trap: Reverses the logic). (c) by / by (Common Mistake). (d) until / until (Common Mistake).
20 (c) until / by
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Continue checking” is a continuous process (until 10 PM). “Die down completely” is a punctual, final achievement representing the deadline for the storm’s severity (by that time).
- Error Analysis: (a) by / until (Meaning Trap). (b) until / until (Common Mistake). (d) by / by (Common Mistake).
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
1 UNTIL (For the Duration of the Storm):
- Use Until to define the duration of an ongoing action, weather condition, or state. It answers the question: How long will this weather or restriction last before it stops?
- Key Verbs: remain (indoors), stay, continue, fall, wait, delay, be in effect, be suspended.
- Example: “The storm will continue until tomorrow.” (The bad weather is a continuous event spanning the whole time).
2 BY (For Cleanup and Deadlines):
- Use By to indicate a strict deadline for a completed action or achievement. In weather bulletins, it highlights when a hazard will be cleared or when you must finish your preparations. It answers: What is the latest possible time this will happen?
- Key Verbs: clear, pass, complete, restore, gather (supplies), reach (a location), head home.
- Example: “The roads will be cleared by noon.” (The cleanup process will be entirely completed before noon arrives).
3 The “Do Not” Restriction:
- When authorities command you not to do a momentary action (e.g., “Do not drive,” “Do not leave your house”), it creates a continuous state of sheltering in place. Therefore, you must use until.
- Example: “Do not go outside until the authorities give the all-clear.” (Maintain the state of staying inside up to that exact moment).