until
- till
Until and till can be prepositions or conjunctions. There is no difference in meaning between until and till. Till is more common in conversation, and is not used in formal writing.
used as prepositions
If you do something until or till a particular time, you stop doing it at that time.
He continued to teach until his death in 1960.
I said I'd work till 4 p.m.
If you want to emphasize that something does not stop before the time you mention, you can use up until, up till, or up to.
Up until 1950 coal provided over 90% of our energy needs.
Eleanor had not up till then taken part in the discussion.
Up to now they've had very little money.
If something does not happen until or till a particular time, it does not happen before that time.
Details will not be available until January.
We didn't get back till two.
used with ‘after’
You can use until or till with phrases beginning with after.
He decided to wait until after Christmas to propose to Gertrude.
We didn't get home till after midnight.
Be careful
Don't use ‘until’ or ‘till’ to say that something will have happened before a particular time. Don't say, for example, ‘The work will be finished until four o’clock'. You say ‘The work will be finished by four o’clock'.
Don't use ‘until’ or ‘till’ to say that something will have happened before a particular time. Don't say, for example, ‘The work will be finished until four o’clock'. You say ‘The work will be finished by four o’clock'.
By 8.05 the groups were ready.
Total sales reached 1 million by 2010.
used with ‘from’
From is often used with until or till to say when something finishes and ends.
The ticket office will be open from 10.00am until 1.00pm.
They worked from dawn till dusk.
In sentences like these, you can use to instead of ‘until’ or ‘till’. Some American speakers also use through.
Open daily 1000-1700 from 23rd March to 3rd November.
I was in college from 1985 through 1990.
Be careful
You only use until or till when you are talking about time. Don't use these words to talk about position. Don't say, for example, ‘She walked until the post office’. You say ‘She walked as far as the post office’.
You only use until or till when you are talking about time. Don't use these words to talk about position. Don't say, for example, ‘She walked until the post office’. You say ‘She walked as far as the post office’.
They drove as far as the Cantabrian mountains.
used as conjunctions
Instead of a noun phrase, you can use a subordinate clause after until or till. You often use the present simple in the subordinate clause.
They concentrate on one language until they go to university.
Stay here with me till help comes.
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You can also use the present perfect in the subordinate clause.
I'll wait here until you have had your breakfast.
When you are talking about events in the past, you use the past simple or the past perfect in the subordinate clause.
The plan remained secret until it was exposed by the press.
He continued watching until I had driven off in my car.
Be careful
Don't use a future form in the subordinate clause. Don't say, for example ‘Stay here with me till help will come’ or ‘I’ll wait here until you will have had your breakfast'.
Don't use a future form in the subordinate clause. Don't say, for example ‘Stay here with me till help will come’ or ‘I’ll wait here until you will have had your breakfast'.