By Friday or Until Friday?
Explore appointment notes and see how “by” and “until” change their meaning.
Preview
Questions with solutions-
1. ملء الفراغ.
Please confirm your appointment ___ Friday. Friday is the last day to reply.
- by
- until
The note gives a last day for one action.
Show solution
Please confirm your appointment by Friday. Friday is the last day to reply.
“By Friday” means on Friday or earlier.
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2. ملء الفراغ.
The front desk is open now. It will stay open ___ 5 p.m.
- by
- until
The desk stays open for a period of time.
Show solution
The front desk is open now. It will stay open until 5 p.m.
“Until” gives the end time for something that continues.
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3. اختيار الإجابة الصحيحة.
Which arrival time follows this note?
Your appointment is at 10 a.m. Please arrive by 9:50 a.m.
- 9:55 a.m.
- 10 a.m.
- 9:45 a.m.
You need to arrive before the appointment starts.
Show solution
- 9:45 a.m.
Arriving early is fine. The extra time lets you check in.
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4. ملء الفراغ.
You can use the meeting room from 2 p.m. ___ 3 p.m.
- until
- by
The note gives the start and end of a time period.
Show solution
You can use the meeting room from 2 p.m. until 3 p.m.
“From ... until ...” shows how long you can use the room.
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5. اختيار الإجابة الصحيحة.
Does this note tell you how many hours the nurse is there?
The nurse is here until 4 p.m.
- Yes, the nurse is there for four hours.
- No, it only gives the end time.
There is no start time in the note.
Show solution
- No, it only gives the end time.
“Until 4 p.m.” gives an end time. “For four hours” gives a length of time.
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6. ملء الفراغ.
Your appointment is at 11 a.m. Please send us the form ___ then.
- until
- by
Sending the form is one action with a last possible time.
Show solution
Your appointment is at 11 a.m. Please send us the form by then.
“Then” refers to 11 a.m., so “by then” means no later than 11 a.m.
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7. اختيار الإجابة الصحيحة.
What is planned for Friday?
Your visit is on Friday. Please confirm it by Wednesday.
- Your visit.
- The last day to confirm.
- The first day you can confirm.
The two days have different jobs in this note.
Show solution
- Your visit.
The visit date and the last day to reply are different.
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8. ملء الفراغ.
Please stay in the waiting room ___ the nurse calls your name.
- by
- until
An event, not a clock time, ends the waiting.
Show solution
Please stay in the waiting room until the nurse calls your name.
“Until” can come before an event, such as someone calling your name.
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9. اختيار الإجابة الصحيحة.
Will you get your money back under this rule?
You must cancel by Tuesday to get your money back. You cancel on Wednesday.
- Yes, Wednesday is early enough.
- No, you canceled too early.
- No, you canceled too late.
Compare the cancellation day with the last allowed day.
Show solution
- No, you canceled too late.
Wednesday is after Tuesday. Missing a deadline can affect whether you get your money back.
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10. ملء الفراغ.
You can use the room until 2 p.m. The next appointment starts then.
Please leave the room ___ 2 p.m.
- by
- until
Leaving is an action to finish, not an activity to continue.
Show solution
Please leave the room by 2 p.m.
You can stay “until” 2 p.m., but you must leave “by” 2 p.m.
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11. اختيار الإجابة الصحيحة.
What does the note say about Sunday?
The doctor won't be available until Monday.
- It is the last day to see the doctor.
- The doctor is not available.
- The doctor becomes available that day.
Notice “won't”: the doctor is not available yet.
Show solution
- The doctor is not available.
“Not ... until Monday” means something does not happen before Monday.
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12. ملء الفراغ.
Your appointment ends at 3 p.m. I'll wait here ___ after your appointment.
- by
- until
The person keeps waiting while the appointment happens.
Show solution
Your appointment ends at 3 p.m. I'll wait here until after your appointment.
“Until after your appointment” means the waiting continues through the appointment.
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13. اختيار الإجابة الصحيحة.
Does Sam offer to work for the full time requested?
Manager: “Can you work at the appointment desk until Friday?”
Sam: “I can work there until Thursday.”- Yes, any end day before Friday is enough.
- No, Sam would start a day late.
- No, Sam would stop a day early.
Compare the two end days.
Show solution
- No, Sam would stop a day early.
With “until,” an earlier end means a shorter period—not an early finish that meets a deadline.
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14. اختيار الإجابة الصحيحة.
What does this note mean?
By 9 a.m., everyone was ready for the appointment.
- Everyone was ready at 9 a.m. or earlier.
- Everyone started getting ready at 9 a.m.
- Everyone was ready only until 9 a.m.
The note describes something that was already done.
Show solution
- Everyone was ready at 9 a.m. or earlier.
“By” can describe a past result, not just a future deadline.
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15. اختيار الإجابة الصحيحة.
Which plan follows both parts of the note?
Please confirm your appointment at the front desk by Thursday. The desk is open from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Thursday.
- Confirm at the desk at 7 p.m. on Thursday.
- Confirm at the desk at 5 p.m. on Thursday.
- Confirm at the desk at 5 p.m. on Friday.
Check both the day and the desk's opening hours.
Show solution
- Confirm at the desk at 5 p.m. on Thursday.
Your plan must meet the reply deadline and fit within the desk's opening hours.