Difference between BEFORE and UNTIL

0
10359

Is there any difference between UNTIL and BEFORE? To be more exact, please take a look at these examples: 1) I will wait UNTIL you come. 2)I will wait BEFORE you come.

I can see why it may be hard for language learners to differentiate between these two prepositions. Their meanings are very similar and sometimes they may even be used interchangeably. Letโ€™s look at the definitions and some examples to help you understand the difference.
ย 
BEFORE means earlier than
UNTIL means up to a certain point in time
ย 

  • I have to talk to the client before I call my manager. (It means I will talk to the client first/earlier and later I will call my manager.)
  • Iโ€™ll wait to call my manager until I hear from the client. (It means I will wait up to that point in time when the client calls me.)

ย 

  • I always feed my dog before I have dinner. (It means the dog eats first/earlier and I eat later.)
  • I donโ€™t have dinner until I feed my dog. (It means I donโ€™t eat up to that point in time when my dog is fed.)

ย 

  • I want to get home before 8. (earlier than 8)
  • I want to stay here until 8. (up to 8 oโ€™clock)

ย 

  • Iโ€™d lived there before my son was born. (It means I had lived there earlier, but I may lived there after his birth too. )
  • Iโ€™d lived there until my son was born. (It means I stopped living there when he was born and went to live somewhere else.)

ย 

  • I will wait before you come.
    This sentence is NOT correct. It means that I will wait first and then some time later somebody will come. Itโ€™s not what you want to say. What you want to say is:
  • I will wait until you come.
    It means I will wait up to that point in time when this person comes.

ย 

  • I will wait before 8.
    Not correct.
  • I will wait until 8.
    Correct. It means you will wait up to 8 oโ€™clock.

ย 
NOT UNTIL may mean NOT BEFORE
ย 

  • I will not see my husband again until/before Christmas.
  • They will not be back until/before Sunday.
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments