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Clarified the explanation of "will be back until".
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DTRT
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In these cases, 'by' can be used but it changes what the speaker is expressing.

She won't be back until 5 o'clock.

expresses that Penelope will return at exactly 5 o'clock.

She won't be back by 5 o'clock

expresses that Penelope will return sometime after 5 o'clock. There is also an implication that something else will happen at 5 o'clock that Penelope will miss.

She won't be back until after 5 o'clock.

expresses that Penelope will return sometime after 5 o'clock, but nothing else is happening for Penelope to miss.

She will be back until 5 o'clock.

expresses that Penelope was away, then returned, is here now and will leave again at 5 o'clock.

She will be back by 5 o'clock.

expresses that Penelope will return sometime before 5 o'clock.

In these cases, 'by' can be used but it changes what the speaker is expressing.

She won't be back until 5 o'clock.

expresses that Penelope will return at exactly 5 o'clock.

She won't be back by 5 o'clock

expresses that Penelope will return sometime after 5 o'clock. There is also an implication that something else will happen at 5 o'clock that Penelope will miss.

She won't be back until after 5 o'clock.

expresses that Penelope will return sometime after 5 o'clock, but nothing else is happening for Penelope to miss.

She will be back until 5 o'clock.

expresses that Penelope is here now and will leave at 5 o'clock.

She will be back by 5 o'clock.

expresses that Penelope will return sometime before 5 o'clock.

In these cases, 'by' can be used but it changes what the speaker is expressing.

She won't be back until 5 o'clock.

expresses that Penelope will return at exactly 5 o'clock.

She won't be back by 5 o'clock

expresses that Penelope will return sometime after 5 o'clock. There is also an implication that something else will happen at 5 o'clock that Penelope will miss.

She won't be back until after 5 o'clock.

expresses that Penelope will return sometime after 5 o'clock, but nothing else is happening for Penelope to miss.

She will be back until 5 o'clock.

expresses that Penelope was away, then returned, is here now and will leave again at 5 o'clock.

She will be back by 5 o'clock.

expresses that Penelope will return sometime before 5 o'clock.

Source Link
DTRT
  • 5.1k
  • 13
  • 18

In these cases, 'by' can be used but it changes what the speaker is expressing.

She won't be back until 5 o'clock.

expresses that Penelope will return at exactly 5 o'clock.

She won't be back by 5 o'clock

expresses that Penelope will return sometime after 5 o'clock. There is also an implication that something else will happen at 5 o'clock that Penelope will miss.

She won't be back until after 5 o'clock.

expresses that Penelope will return sometime after 5 o'clock, but nothing else is happening for Penelope to miss.

She will be back until 5 o'clock.

expresses that Penelope is here now and will leave at 5 o'clock.

She will be back by 5 o'clock.

expresses that Penelope will return sometime before 5 o'clock.