Line英会話クラス
Lesson Plan August 18, 2023
Topic: By, Until & By the time
In this lesson we will look at how to use prepositions for time
Section A
We use “by” to mean not later than
This milk needs to be used by August 19. (= at or before August 19, not later than August 19)
I sent the documents to them today, so they should receive them by Monday. (= on or before Monday, but not later than Monday)
We’d better hurry. We have to be hoe by five o’clock. (= at or before five o’clock, not later than five o’clock)
Where’s Sarah? She should be here by now. (= now or before now - so she should have already arrived.
Section B
We use “until” or “till” to say how long a situation continues
A: Should we go now?
B: No, let’s wait until it stops raining.I couldn’t get up this morning. I stayed in bed until half past ten.
Compare By & Until
Something continues until a time in the future
Joe will be away until Monday. (= he’ll be back on Monday)
I’ll be working until 11:30. (= I’ll stop working at 11:30)
Something happens by a time in the future
Joe will be back by Monday. (= he’ll be back not later than Monday)
I’ll have to finish my work by 11:30. (= I’ll finish my work not later than 11:30)
Section C
You can use the phrase “by the time something happens”
It’s too late to go to the bank now. By the time we get there, it will be closed. (= the bank will close between now and the time we get there)
(Situation; from a postcard): Our holiday ends tomorrow, so by the time you receive this postcard, I’ll be back home. (= I will arrive home between tomorrow and the time we receive this postcard)
Hurry up! By the time we get to the cinema, the movies will already have started.
You can also use the phrase “by the time something happened” (for the past)
Karen’s car broke down on the way to the party last night. By the time she arrived, most of the other guests had left. (= it took her a long time to get to the party and most of the guests left during this time)
I had a lot of work to do yesterday evening. I was very tired by the time I finished.
We went to the movies last night. The trains were behind schedule. By the time we got to the movies, the film had already started.
Lesson Notes
Let me know by Saturday whether you can come to the party. (= shows the action that you want the person to take)
By Saturday, let me know whether you can come to the party. (= emphasis on the deadline)
A: I'm going out now. I'll be back by 10:30. Will you still be here?
B: I don't think so. I'll probably have gone out by then.A: I’m going out now. I won’t be back until 10:30. Will you still be here?
B: I don’t think so. I’ll probably have gone out by then.