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Does “Until when” sound natural for native speakers?
'How delayed is the flight?' - Is it the right expression?Using the verb suggest as the word adviseGas as a liquid and as a gaseous formWhat's the name for words people say when they don't know what to say and need a moment to think?When someone's behavor is admirable or… in your viewWhat would a TV host say to his guest when the time for the show is about to end?How common the usage of “fortnight” instead of “two weeks ago”?Does word “segregate” sound natural?Does “resume from standby” phrase sound natural?What dirtied your clothes?
In some languages such as my native languages (Kurdish and Persian), when we want to ask about the exact limit point of time for something, we use two words which are exactly equal to this two words in English: Until When?
For example, we say:
Until when do I have time to finish this project?
I would like to know how much this way of asking is natural in different English speaking countries? Or if it sounds pretty weird to you, please tell me how you say the above sentence in English.
word-usage word-request
add a comment |
In some languages such as my native languages (Kurdish and Persian), when we want to ask about the exact limit point of time for something, we use two words which are exactly equal to this two words in English: Until When?
For example, we say:
Until when do I have time to finish this project?
I would like to know how much this way of asking is natural in different English speaking countries? Or if it sounds pretty weird to you, please tell me how you say the above sentence in English.
word-usage word-request
add a comment |
In some languages such as my native languages (Kurdish and Persian), when we want to ask about the exact limit point of time for something, we use two words which are exactly equal to this two words in English: Until When?
For example, we say:
Until when do I have time to finish this project?
I would like to know how much this way of asking is natural in different English speaking countries? Or if it sounds pretty weird to you, please tell me how you say the above sentence in English.
word-usage word-request
In some languages such as my native languages (Kurdish and Persian), when we want to ask about the exact limit point of time for something, we use two words which are exactly equal to this two words in English: Until When?
For example, we say:
Until when do I have time to finish this project?
I would like to know how much this way of asking is natural in different English speaking countries? Or if it sounds pretty weird to you, please tell me how you say the above sentence in English.
word-usage word-request
word-usage word-request
edited 2 days ago
J.R.♦
99.8k8129247
99.8k8129247
asked 2 days ago
Yazdan Samiei PoorYazdan Samiei Poor
36329
36329
add a comment |
add a comment |
8 Answers
8
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oldest
votes
I think the “until when” construct can work fine in a question like this, although I think I’d be inclined to change the order of the words:
I have until when to finish this project?
Also, it’s worth noting that we will often put additional emphasis on the word when in such questions, particularly when expressing surprise. For example:
Ted: I’ll need this project done by Friday.
Ned: I have until when to finish this project?
In this dialogue, Ned isn’t really asking Ted for a deadline; he is expressing incredulity that the deadline is coming so soon. In other words, Ned knows the project needs to be done by Friday, but he is astonished that he has so little time to accomplish so much work.
Of course, there are many other ways people can ask about an upcoming deadline. I especially like the suggestions provided by Bob Jarvis and Ronnie Childs elsewhere in answers and comments under this question:
When is the deadline for this project?
- How long do I have to finish this project?
2
Another way of asking the question would be "How long do I have to finish the project?" and I would expect a time period, like "2 weeks". If I ask "I have until when..." I would expect a date or day, like "March 26th"
– ColleenV♦
2 days ago
5
I think "When is this due?" is being overlooked as a concise alternative.
– G. Ann - SonarSource Team
yesterday
add a comment |
There are certainly sentences where it would sound entirely appropriate.
Boss: Keep working on this.
Employee: Until when?
Parent: You are grounded!
Child: Until when?
Both usages are complete sentences. Used as part of a sentence sounds a bit more strained and unnatural.
2
The words "until when" do not gramatically constitute a complete sentence, because a sentence must have a verb. In casual conversation, however, such questions imply the previous statement to become complete: "Until when (am I grounded)"
– Monty Harder
yesterday
add a comment |
Until when is occasionally used but not nearly as often as just when or by when.
So most common are:
When do I have to finish this project
and
By when do I have to finish this project.
But these two constructions don't necessarily mean the same thing.
The first is ambiguous; it can be understood either as at what time/on what day do I have to finish it - or by when do I have to finish it.
The second means by when must it be completed - by what time, day or other period.
People also ask:
What is the deadline for completion
So my recommendation is that you stick to: By when does it have to be completed.
Here is a related Ngram, comparing the use of by when and until when.
I would like just out of pure personal curiosity, would you completely "discard" to use the "Until when"? Even though it is grammatically correct?
– Kentaro Tomono
2 days ago
1
Not at all. Depending on the context, I might well use it, as J.R. illustrates.
– Ronald Sole
2 days ago
add a comment |
Until when
is not a particularly common construct in this situation. You would be more likely to hear How long
, as in:
How long do I have to finish this assignment?
This is the only answer that explicitly answers the 'does it sound natural' part of the question. The answer to that is (as this answer correctly states), in the context of the question: 'no, it does not sound natural'. It only sounds natural if you put a different spin on the original question.
– Katinka Hesselink
yesterday
add a comment |
Not a native, but I think natives would most commonly use
How much time do I have to finish this project?
However, I believe
Until when do I have to finish this project?
Might be grammatically sound. Now I am not entirely sure whether a native would use that or not
New contributor
1
As a footnote, this native speaker would have no problem using that.
– J.R.♦
2 days ago
As a native without any restriction of using "until when", what would you instinctively say??
– eefar
2 days ago
8
@eefar As a native British English speaker, I would never say "until when" unless I was deliberately using an unusual choice of words or grammar for some reason. "Until when do I have do finish" is confusing. "Until Thursday" (for example) means "the interval of time start now and ending on Thursday." You don't finish a project during an interval of time, you finish it at a moment in time. A better sentence would be just "When do I have to finish this project?" or "By when..." (or less formally, "When do I have to finish this project by?")not "Until when..."
– alephzero
2 days ago
@alephzero Fully agree. "Until when do I have to stand here?" makes perfect sense, as it's asking about a duration; "Until when do I have to finish this project" doesn't, because the response "You have to finish it until Thursday" doesn't make sense.
– David Richerby
2 days ago
@DavidRicherby "You have until Thursday to finish it." makes perfect sense, and is the answer I'd expect if somebody asked "Until when do I have to finish this?" Unlike your "stand here" example, that doesn't mean you have to spend every moment between now and Thursday "finishing" it; it just means that at some point between now and Thursday, it has to be finished. The "Until when..." wording wouldn't be my first choice, but it doesn't seem particularly problematic to me.
– Anthony Grist
yesterday
|
show 4 more comments
(Note: This is from a Northeastern U.S. native speaker's perspective.)
"Until when ..." is okay-ish, if a bit stilted. But "Until when do I have time ..." is just too clunky to be considered good colloquial English. See J.R.'s response for good ways to use "until when".
But this answer is to highlight what a previous comment pointed out: that the most natural way to say this would use the word "due":
When is the/this/our project due?
This is exactly how my students would ask me, multiple times throughout the semester.
New contributor
add a comment |
Until when do I have time to finish this project?
I think there are two problems here:
- We don't need the word 'time' if we are using a preposition that relates the concept of time.
Until is a general word for something that is going to be happening, or true, for a certain time, and then stop being true (focusing on the period before the stop time). However, to focus on the deadline itself, we tend to use by (see Common Mistakes in Business English: The difference between “by” and “until”).
So we could say
By when do I have to finish this project?
...and if we aren't squeamish about finishing a sentence with a preposition, a UK speaker speaking informally might be likely to say:
When do I have to finish this project by?
To answer your title question though, "Until when" is perfectly natural for other cases:
"I'm working in the library."
"Until when?"
" 'Til lunchtime. I have to hand in this project by this afternoon"
add a comment |
I would say "When do I have to have finished the project by?" or "When should I have finished the project by?"
Native English speaker here
New contributor
Why would you say that? What's wrong with the phrasing in the question? On Stack Exchange, we're looking for answers that explain, not just statements of fact. As a native speaker, I think your suggestions are perfectly reasonable, but you should justify them.
– David Richerby
yesterday
add a comment |
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8 Answers
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8 Answers
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active
oldest
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I think the “until when” construct can work fine in a question like this, although I think I’d be inclined to change the order of the words:
I have until when to finish this project?
Also, it’s worth noting that we will often put additional emphasis on the word when in such questions, particularly when expressing surprise. For example:
Ted: I’ll need this project done by Friday.
Ned: I have until when to finish this project?
In this dialogue, Ned isn’t really asking Ted for a deadline; he is expressing incredulity that the deadline is coming so soon. In other words, Ned knows the project needs to be done by Friday, but he is astonished that he has so little time to accomplish so much work.
Of course, there are many other ways people can ask about an upcoming deadline. I especially like the suggestions provided by Bob Jarvis and Ronnie Childs elsewhere in answers and comments under this question:
When is the deadline for this project?
- How long do I have to finish this project?
2
Another way of asking the question would be "How long do I have to finish the project?" and I would expect a time period, like "2 weeks". If I ask "I have until when..." I would expect a date or day, like "March 26th"
– ColleenV♦
2 days ago
5
I think "When is this due?" is being overlooked as a concise alternative.
– G. Ann - SonarSource Team
yesterday
add a comment |
I think the “until when” construct can work fine in a question like this, although I think I’d be inclined to change the order of the words:
I have until when to finish this project?
Also, it’s worth noting that we will often put additional emphasis on the word when in such questions, particularly when expressing surprise. For example:
Ted: I’ll need this project done by Friday.
Ned: I have until when to finish this project?
In this dialogue, Ned isn’t really asking Ted for a deadline; he is expressing incredulity that the deadline is coming so soon. In other words, Ned knows the project needs to be done by Friday, but he is astonished that he has so little time to accomplish so much work.
Of course, there are many other ways people can ask about an upcoming deadline. I especially like the suggestions provided by Bob Jarvis and Ronnie Childs elsewhere in answers and comments under this question:
When is the deadline for this project?
- How long do I have to finish this project?
2
Another way of asking the question would be "How long do I have to finish the project?" and I would expect a time period, like "2 weeks". If I ask "I have until when..." I would expect a date or day, like "March 26th"
– ColleenV♦
2 days ago
5
I think "When is this due?" is being overlooked as a concise alternative.
– G. Ann - SonarSource Team
yesterday
add a comment |
I think the “until when” construct can work fine in a question like this, although I think I’d be inclined to change the order of the words:
I have until when to finish this project?
Also, it’s worth noting that we will often put additional emphasis on the word when in such questions, particularly when expressing surprise. For example:
Ted: I’ll need this project done by Friday.
Ned: I have until when to finish this project?
In this dialogue, Ned isn’t really asking Ted for a deadline; he is expressing incredulity that the deadline is coming so soon. In other words, Ned knows the project needs to be done by Friday, but he is astonished that he has so little time to accomplish so much work.
Of course, there are many other ways people can ask about an upcoming deadline. I especially like the suggestions provided by Bob Jarvis and Ronnie Childs elsewhere in answers and comments under this question:
When is the deadline for this project?
- How long do I have to finish this project?
I think the “until when” construct can work fine in a question like this, although I think I’d be inclined to change the order of the words:
I have until when to finish this project?
Also, it’s worth noting that we will often put additional emphasis on the word when in such questions, particularly when expressing surprise. For example:
Ted: I’ll need this project done by Friday.
Ned: I have until when to finish this project?
In this dialogue, Ned isn’t really asking Ted for a deadline; he is expressing incredulity that the deadline is coming so soon. In other words, Ned knows the project needs to be done by Friday, but he is astonished that he has so little time to accomplish so much work.
Of course, there are many other ways people can ask about an upcoming deadline. I especially like the suggestions provided by Bob Jarvis and Ronnie Childs elsewhere in answers and comments under this question:
When is the deadline for this project?
- How long do I have to finish this project?
edited yesterday
answered 2 days ago
J.R.♦J.R.
99.8k8129247
99.8k8129247
2
Another way of asking the question would be "How long do I have to finish the project?" and I would expect a time period, like "2 weeks". If I ask "I have until when..." I would expect a date or day, like "March 26th"
– ColleenV♦
2 days ago
5
I think "When is this due?" is being overlooked as a concise alternative.
– G. Ann - SonarSource Team
yesterday
add a comment |
2
Another way of asking the question would be "How long do I have to finish the project?" and I would expect a time period, like "2 weeks". If I ask "I have until when..." I would expect a date or day, like "March 26th"
– ColleenV♦
2 days ago
5
I think "When is this due?" is being overlooked as a concise alternative.
– G. Ann - SonarSource Team
yesterday
2
2
Another way of asking the question would be "How long do I have to finish the project?" and I would expect a time period, like "2 weeks". If I ask "I have until when..." I would expect a date or day, like "March 26th"
– ColleenV♦
2 days ago
Another way of asking the question would be "How long do I have to finish the project?" and I would expect a time period, like "2 weeks". If I ask "I have until when..." I would expect a date or day, like "March 26th"
– ColleenV♦
2 days ago
5
5
I think "When is this due?" is being overlooked as a concise alternative.
– G. Ann - SonarSource Team
yesterday
I think "When is this due?" is being overlooked as a concise alternative.
– G. Ann - SonarSource Team
yesterday
add a comment |
There are certainly sentences where it would sound entirely appropriate.
Boss: Keep working on this.
Employee: Until when?
Parent: You are grounded!
Child: Until when?
Both usages are complete sentences. Used as part of a sentence sounds a bit more strained and unnatural.
2
The words "until when" do not gramatically constitute a complete sentence, because a sentence must have a verb. In casual conversation, however, such questions imply the previous statement to become complete: "Until when (am I grounded)"
– Monty Harder
yesterday
add a comment |
There are certainly sentences where it would sound entirely appropriate.
Boss: Keep working on this.
Employee: Until when?
Parent: You are grounded!
Child: Until when?
Both usages are complete sentences. Used as part of a sentence sounds a bit more strained and unnatural.
2
The words "until when" do not gramatically constitute a complete sentence, because a sentence must have a verb. In casual conversation, however, such questions imply the previous statement to become complete: "Until when (am I grounded)"
– Monty Harder
yesterday
add a comment |
There are certainly sentences where it would sound entirely appropriate.
Boss: Keep working on this.
Employee: Until when?
Parent: You are grounded!
Child: Until when?
Both usages are complete sentences. Used as part of a sentence sounds a bit more strained and unnatural.
There are certainly sentences where it would sound entirely appropriate.
Boss: Keep working on this.
Employee: Until when?
Parent: You are grounded!
Child: Until when?
Both usages are complete sentences. Used as part of a sentence sounds a bit more strained and unnatural.
edited 2 days ago
answered 2 days ago
jmorenojmoreno
58126
58126
2
The words "until when" do not gramatically constitute a complete sentence, because a sentence must have a verb. In casual conversation, however, such questions imply the previous statement to become complete: "Until when (am I grounded)"
– Monty Harder
yesterday
add a comment |
2
The words "until when" do not gramatically constitute a complete sentence, because a sentence must have a verb. In casual conversation, however, such questions imply the previous statement to become complete: "Until when (am I grounded)"
– Monty Harder
yesterday
2
2
The words "until when" do not gramatically constitute a complete sentence, because a sentence must have a verb. In casual conversation, however, such questions imply the previous statement to become complete: "Until when (am I grounded)"
– Monty Harder
yesterday
The words "until when" do not gramatically constitute a complete sentence, because a sentence must have a verb. In casual conversation, however, such questions imply the previous statement to become complete: "Until when (am I grounded)"
– Monty Harder
yesterday
add a comment |
Until when is occasionally used but not nearly as often as just when or by when.
So most common are:
When do I have to finish this project
and
By when do I have to finish this project.
But these two constructions don't necessarily mean the same thing.
The first is ambiguous; it can be understood either as at what time/on what day do I have to finish it - or by when do I have to finish it.
The second means by when must it be completed - by what time, day or other period.
People also ask:
What is the deadline for completion
So my recommendation is that you stick to: By when does it have to be completed.
Here is a related Ngram, comparing the use of by when and until when.
I would like just out of pure personal curiosity, would you completely "discard" to use the "Until when"? Even though it is grammatically correct?
– Kentaro Tomono
2 days ago
1
Not at all. Depending on the context, I might well use it, as J.R. illustrates.
– Ronald Sole
2 days ago
add a comment |
Until when is occasionally used but not nearly as often as just when or by when.
So most common are:
When do I have to finish this project
and
By when do I have to finish this project.
But these two constructions don't necessarily mean the same thing.
The first is ambiguous; it can be understood either as at what time/on what day do I have to finish it - or by when do I have to finish it.
The second means by when must it be completed - by what time, day or other period.
People also ask:
What is the deadline for completion
So my recommendation is that you stick to: By when does it have to be completed.
Here is a related Ngram, comparing the use of by when and until when.
I would like just out of pure personal curiosity, would you completely "discard" to use the "Until when"? Even though it is grammatically correct?
– Kentaro Tomono
2 days ago
1
Not at all. Depending on the context, I might well use it, as J.R. illustrates.
– Ronald Sole
2 days ago
add a comment |
Until when is occasionally used but not nearly as often as just when or by when.
So most common are:
When do I have to finish this project
and
By when do I have to finish this project.
But these two constructions don't necessarily mean the same thing.
The first is ambiguous; it can be understood either as at what time/on what day do I have to finish it - or by when do I have to finish it.
The second means by when must it be completed - by what time, day or other period.
People also ask:
What is the deadline for completion
So my recommendation is that you stick to: By when does it have to be completed.
Here is a related Ngram, comparing the use of by when and until when.
Until when is occasionally used but not nearly as often as just when or by when.
So most common are:
When do I have to finish this project
and
By when do I have to finish this project.
But these two constructions don't necessarily mean the same thing.
The first is ambiguous; it can be understood either as at what time/on what day do I have to finish it - or by when do I have to finish it.
The second means by when must it be completed - by what time, day or other period.
People also ask:
What is the deadline for completion
So my recommendation is that you stick to: By when does it have to be completed.
Here is a related Ngram, comparing the use of by when and until when.
edited yesterday
J.R.♦
99.8k8129247
99.8k8129247
answered 2 days ago
Ronald SoleRonald Sole
11.5k11124
11.5k11124
I would like just out of pure personal curiosity, would you completely "discard" to use the "Until when"? Even though it is grammatically correct?
– Kentaro Tomono
2 days ago
1
Not at all. Depending on the context, I might well use it, as J.R. illustrates.
– Ronald Sole
2 days ago
add a comment |
I would like just out of pure personal curiosity, would you completely "discard" to use the "Until when"? Even though it is grammatically correct?
– Kentaro Tomono
2 days ago
1
Not at all. Depending on the context, I might well use it, as J.R. illustrates.
– Ronald Sole
2 days ago
I would like just out of pure personal curiosity, would you completely "discard" to use the "Until when"? Even though it is grammatically correct?
– Kentaro Tomono
2 days ago
I would like just out of pure personal curiosity, would you completely "discard" to use the "Until when"? Even though it is grammatically correct?
– Kentaro Tomono
2 days ago
1
1
Not at all. Depending on the context, I might well use it, as J.R. illustrates.
– Ronald Sole
2 days ago
Not at all. Depending on the context, I might well use it, as J.R. illustrates.
– Ronald Sole
2 days ago
add a comment |
Until when
is not a particularly common construct in this situation. You would be more likely to hear How long
, as in:
How long do I have to finish this assignment?
This is the only answer that explicitly answers the 'does it sound natural' part of the question. The answer to that is (as this answer correctly states), in the context of the question: 'no, it does not sound natural'. It only sounds natural if you put a different spin on the original question.
– Katinka Hesselink
yesterday
add a comment |
Until when
is not a particularly common construct in this situation. You would be more likely to hear How long
, as in:
How long do I have to finish this assignment?
This is the only answer that explicitly answers the 'does it sound natural' part of the question. The answer to that is (as this answer correctly states), in the context of the question: 'no, it does not sound natural'. It only sounds natural if you put a different spin on the original question.
– Katinka Hesselink
yesterday
add a comment |
Until when
is not a particularly common construct in this situation. You would be more likely to hear How long
, as in:
How long do I have to finish this assignment?
Until when
is not a particularly common construct in this situation. You would be more likely to hear How long
, as in:
How long do I have to finish this assignment?
answered 2 days ago
Bob JarvisBob Jarvis
28139
28139
This is the only answer that explicitly answers the 'does it sound natural' part of the question. The answer to that is (as this answer correctly states), in the context of the question: 'no, it does not sound natural'. It only sounds natural if you put a different spin on the original question.
– Katinka Hesselink
yesterday
add a comment |
This is the only answer that explicitly answers the 'does it sound natural' part of the question. The answer to that is (as this answer correctly states), in the context of the question: 'no, it does not sound natural'. It only sounds natural if you put a different spin on the original question.
– Katinka Hesselink
yesterday
This is the only answer that explicitly answers the 'does it sound natural' part of the question. The answer to that is (as this answer correctly states), in the context of the question: 'no, it does not sound natural'. It only sounds natural if you put a different spin on the original question.
– Katinka Hesselink
yesterday
This is the only answer that explicitly answers the 'does it sound natural' part of the question. The answer to that is (as this answer correctly states), in the context of the question: 'no, it does not sound natural'. It only sounds natural if you put a different spin on the original question.
– Katinka Hesselink
yesterday
add a comment |
Not a native, but I think natives would most commonly use
How much time do I have to finish this project?
However, I believe
Until when do I have to finish this project?
Might be grammatically sound. Now I am not entirely sure whether a native would use that or not
New contributor
1
As a footnote, this native speaker would have no problem using that.
– J.R.♦
2 days ago
As a native without any restriction of using "until when", what would you instinctively say??
– eefar
2 days ago
8
@eefar As a native British English speaker, I would never say "until when" unless I was deliberately using an unusual choice of words or grammar for some reason. "Until when do I have do finish" is confusing. "Until Thursday" (for example) means "the interval of time start now and ending on Thursday." You don't finish a project during an interval of time, you finish it at a moment in time. A better sentence would be just "When do I have to finish this project?" or "By when..." (or less formally, "When do I have to finish this project by?")not "Until when..."
– alephzero
2 days ago
@alephzero Fully agree. "Until when do I have to stand here?" makes perfect sense, as it's asking about a duration; "Until when do I have to finish this project" doesn't, because the response "You have to finish it until Thursday" doesn't make sense.
– David Richerby
2 days ago
@DavidRicherby "You have until Thursday to finish it." makes perfect sense, and is the answer I'd expect if somebody asked "Until when do I have to finish this?" Unlike your "stand here" example, that doesn't mean you have to spend every moment between now and Thursday "finishing" it; it just means that at some point between now and Thursday, it has to be finished. The "Until when..." wording wouldn't be my first choice, but it doesn't seem particularly problematic to me.
– Anthony Grist
yesterday
|
show 4 more comments
Not a native, but I think natives would most commonly use
How much time do I have to finish this project?
However, I believe
Until when do I have to finish this project?
Might be grammatically sound. Now I am not entirely sure whether a native would use that or not
New contributor
1
As a footnote, this native speaker would have no problem using that.
– J.R.♦
2 days ago
As a native without any restriction of using "until when", what would you instinctively say??
– eefar
2 days ago
8
@eefar As a native British English speaker, I would never say "until when" unless I was deliberately using an unusual choice of words or grammar for some reason. "Until when do I have do finish" is confusing. "Until Thursday" (for example) means "the interval of time start now and ending on Thursday." You don't finish a project during an interval of time, you finish it at a moment in time. A better sentence would be just "When do I have to finish this project?" or "By when..." (or less formally, "When do I have to finish this project by?")not "Until when..."
– alephzero
2 days ago
@alephzero Fully agree. "Until when do I have to stand here?" makes perfect sense, as it's asking about a duration; "Until when do I have to finish this project" doesn't, because the response "You have to finish it until Thursday" doesn't make sense.
– David Richerby
2 days ago
@DavidRicherby "You have until Thursday to finish it." makes perfect sense, and is the answer I'd expect if somebody asked "Until when do I have to finish this?" Unlike your "stand here" example, that doesn't mean you have to spend every moment between now and Thursday "finishing" it; it just means that at some point between now and Thursday, it has to be finished. The "Until when..." wording wouldn't be my first choice, but it doesn't seem particularly problematic to me.
– Anthony Grist
yesterday
|
show 4 more comments
Not a native, but I think natives would most commonly use
How much time do I have to finish this project?
However, I believe
Until when do I have to finish this project?
Might be grammatically sound. Now I am not entirely sure whether a native would use that or not
New contributor
Not a native, but I think natives would most commonly use
How much time do I have to finish this project?
However, I believe
Until when do I have to finish this project?
Might be grammatically sound. Now I am not entirely sure whether a native would use that or not
New contributor
edited 2 days ago
New contributor
answered 2 days ago
eefareefar
3367
3367
New contributor
New contributor
1
As a footnote, this native speaker would have no problem using that.
– J.R.♦
2 days ago
As a native without any restriction of using "until when", what would you instinctively say??
– eefar
2 days ago
8
@eefar As a native British English speaker, I would never say "until when" unless I was deliberately using an unusual choice of words or grammar for some reason. "Until when do I have do finish" is confusing. "Until Thursday" (for example) means "the interval of time start now and ending on Thursday." You don't finish a project during an interval of time, you finish it at a moment in time. A better sentence would be just "When do I have to finish this project?" or "By when..." (or less formally, "When do I have to finish this project by?")not "Until when..."
– alephzero
2 days ago
@alephzero Fully agree. "Until when do I have to stand here?" makes perfect sense, as it's asking about a duration; "Until when do I have to finish this project" doesn't, because the response "You have to finish it until Thursday" doesn't make sense.
– David Richerby
2 days ago
@DavidRicherby "You have until Thursday to finish it." makes perfect sense, and is the answer I'd expect if somebody asked "Until when do I have to finish this?" Unlike your "stand here" example, that doesn't mean you have to spend every moment between now and Thursday "finishing" it; it just means that at some point between now and Thursday, it has to be finished. The "Until when..." wording wouldn't be my first choice, but it doesn't seem particularly problematic to me.
– Anthony Grist
yesterday
|
show 4 more comments
1
As a footnote, this native speaker would have no problem using that.
– J.R.♦
2 days ago
As a native without any restriction of using "until when", what would you instinctively say??
– eefar
2 days ago
8
@eefar As a native British English speaker, I would never say "until when" unless I was deliberately using an unusual choice of words or grammar for some reason. "Until when do I have do finish" is confusing. "Until Thursday" (for example) means "the interval of time start now and ending on Thursday." You don't finish a project during an interval of time, you finish it at a moment in time. A better sentence would be just "When do I have to finish this project?" or "By when..." (or less formally, "When do I have to finish this project by?")not "Until when..."
– alephzero
2 days ago
@alephzero Fully agree. "Until when do I have to stand here?" makes perfect sense, as it's asking about a duration; "Until when do I have to finish this project" doesn't, because the response "You have to finish it until Thursday" doesn't make sense.
– David Richerby
2 days ago
@DavidRicherby "You have until Thursday to finish it." makes perfect sense, and is the answer I'd expect if somebody asked "Until when do I have to finish this?" Unlike your "stand here" example, that doesn't mean you have to spend every moment between now and Thursday "finishing" it; it just means that at some point between now and Thursday, it has to be finished. The "Until when..." wording wouldn't be my first choice, but it doesn't seem particularly problematic to me.
– Anthony Grist
yesterday
1
1
As a footnote, this native speaker would have no problem using that.
– J.R.♦
2 days ago
As a footnote, this native speaker would have no problem using that.
– J.R.♦
2 days ago
As a native without any restriction of using "until when", what would you instinctively say??
– eefar
2 days ago
As a native without any restriction of using "until when", what would you instinctively say??
– eefar
2 days ago
8
8
@eefar As a native British English speaker, I would never say "until when" unless I was deliberately using an unusual choice of words or grammar for some reason. "Until when do I have do finish" is confusing. "Until Thursday" (for example) means "the interval of time start now and ending on Thursday." You don't finish a project during an interval of time, you finish it at a moment in time. A better sentence would be just "When do I have to finish this project?" or "By when..." (or less formally, "When do I have to finish this project by?")not "Until when..."
– alephzero
2 days ago
@eefar As a native British English speaker, I would never say "until when" unless I was deliberately using an unusual choice of words or grammar for some reason. "Until when do I have do finish" is confusing. "Until Thursday" (for example) means "the interval of time start now and ending on Thursday." You don't finish a project during an interval of time, you finish it at a moment in time. A better sentence would be just "When do I have to finish this project?" or "By when..." (or less formally, "When do I have to finish this project by?")not "Until when..."
– alephzero
2 days ago
@alephzero Fully agree. "Until when do I have to stand here?" makes perfect sense, as it's asking about a duration; "Until when do I have to finish this project" doesn't, because the response "You have to finish it until Thursday" doesn't make sense.
– David Richerby
2 days ago
@alephzero Fully agree. "Until when do I have to stand here?" makes perfect sense, as it's asking about a duration; "Until when do I have to finish this project" doesn't, because the response "You have to finish it until Thursday" doesn't make sense.
– David Richerby
2 days ago
@DavidRicherby "You have until Thursday to finish it." makes perfect sense, and is the answer I'd expect if somebody asked "Until when do I have to finish this?" Unlike your "stand here" example, that doesn't mean you have to spend every moment between now and Thursday "finishing" it; it just means that at some point between now and Thursday, it has to be finished. The "Until when..." wording wouldn't be my first choice, but it doesn't seem particularly problematic to me.
– Anthony Grist
yesterday
@DavidRicherby "You have until Thursday to finish it." makes perfect sense, and is the answer I'd expect if somebody asked "Until when do I have to finish this?" Unlike your "stand here" example, that doesn't mean you have to spend every moment between now and Thursday "finishing" it; it just means that at some point between now and Thursday, it has to be finished. The "Until when..." wording wouldn't be my first choice, but it doesn't seem particularly problematic to me.
– Anthony Grist
yesterday
|
show 4 more comments
(Note: This is from a Northeastern U.S. native speaker's perspective.)
"Until when ..." is okay-ish, if a bit stilted. But "Until when do I have time ..." is just too clunky to be considered good colloquial English. See J.R.'s response for good ways to use "until when".
But this answer is to highlight what a previous comment pointed out: that the most natural way to say this would use the word "due":
When is the/this/our project due?
This is exactly how my students would ask me, multiple times throughout the semester.
New contributor
add a comment |
(Note: This is from a Northeastern U.S. native speaker's perspective.)
"Until when ..." is okay-ish, if a bit stilted. But "Until when do I have time ..." is just too clunky to be considered good colloquial English. See J.R.'s response for good ways to use "until when".
But this answer is to highlight what a previous comment pointed out: that the most natural way to say this would use the word "due":
When is the/this/our project due?
This is exactly how my students would ask me, multiple times throughout the semester.
New contributor
add a comment |
(Note: This is from a Northeastern U.S. native speaker's perspective.)
"Until when ..." is okay-ish, if a bit stilted. But "Until when do I have time ..." is just too clunky to be considered good colloquial English. See J.R.'s response for good ways to use "until when".
But this answer is to highlight what a previous comment pointed out: that the most natural way to say this would use the word "due":
When is the/this/our project due?
This is exactly how my students would ask me, multiple times throughout the semester.
New contributor
(Note: This is from a Northeastern U.S. native speaker's perspective.)
"Until when ..." is okay-ish, if a bit stilted. But "Until when do I have time ..." is just too clunky to be considered good colloquial English. See J.R.'s response for good ways to use "until when".
But this answer is to highlight what a previous comment pointed out: that the most natural way to say this would use the word "due":
When is the/this/our project due?
This is exactly how my students would ask me, multiple times throughout the semester.
New contributor
edited 20 hours ago
J.R.♦
99.8k8129247
99.8k8129247
New contributor
answered yesterday
JonathanZJonathanZ
1412
1412
New contributor
New contributor
add a comment |
add a comment |
Until when do I have time to finish this project?
I think there are two problems here:
- We don't need the word 'time' if we are using a preposition that relates the concept of time.
Until is a general word for something that is going to be happening, or true, for a certain time, and then stop being true (focusing on the period before the stop time). However, to focus on the deadline itself, we tend to use by (see Common Mistakes in Business English: The difference between “by” and “until”).
So we could say
By when do I have to finish this project?
...and if we aren't squeamish about finishing a sentence with a preposition, a UK speaker speaking informally might be likely to say:
When do I have to finish this project by?
To answer your title question though, "Until when" is perfectly natural for other cases:
"I'm working in the library."
"Until when?"
" 'Til lunchtime. I have to hand in this project by this afternoon"
add a comment |
Until when do I have time to finish this project?
I think there are two problems here:
- We don't need the word 'time' if we are using a preposition that relates the concept of time.
Until is a general word for something that is going to be happening, or true, for a certain time, and then stop being true (focusing on the period before the stop time). However, to focus on the deadline itself, we tend to use by (see Common Mistakes in Business English: The difference between “by” and “until”).
So we could say
By when do I have to finish this project?
...and if we aren't squeamish about finishing a sentence with a preposition, a UK speaker speaking informally might be likely to say:
When do I have to finish this project by?
To answer your title question though, "Until when" is perfectly natural for other cases:
"I'm working in the library."
"Until when?"
" 'Til lunchtime. I have to hand in this project by this afternoon"
add a comment |
Until when do I have time to finish this project?
I think there are two problems here:
- We don't need the word 'time' if we are using a preposition that relates the concept of time.
Until is a general word for something that is going to be happening, or true, for a certain time, and then stop being true (focusing on the period before the stop time). However, to focus on the deadline itself, we tend to use by (see Common Mistakes in Business English: The difference between “by” and “until”).
So we could say
By when do I have to finish this project?
...and if we aren't squeamish about finishing a sentence with a preposition, a UK speaker speaking informally might be likely to say:
When do I have to finish this project by?
To answer your title question though, "Until when" is perfectly natural for other cases:
"I'm working in the library."
"Until when?"
" 'Til lunchtime. I have to hand in this project by this afternoon"
Until when do I have time to finish this project?
I think there are two problems here:
- We don't need the word 'time' if we are using a preposition that relates the concept of time.
Until is a general word for something that is going to be happening, or true, for a certain time, and then stop being true (focusing on the period before the stop time). However, to focus on the deadline itself, we tend to use by (see Common Mistakes in Business English: The difference between “by” and “until”).
So we could say
By when do I have to finish this project?
...and if we aren't squeamish about finishing a sentence with a preposition, a UK speaker speaking informally might be likely to say:
When do I have to finish this project by?
To answer your title question though, "Until when" is perfectly natural for other cases:
"I'm working in the library."
"Until when?"
" 'Til lunchtime. I have to hand in this project by this afternoon"
edited yesterday
Toby Speight
1,104514
1,104514
answered 2 days ago
topo mortotopo morto
32017
32017
add a comment |
add a comment |
I would say "When do I have to have finished the project by?" or "When should I have finished the project by?"
Native English speaker here
New contributor
Why would you say that? What's wrong with the phrasing in the question? On Stack Exchange, we're looking for answers that explain, not just statements of fact. As a native speaker, I think your suggestions are perfectly reasonable, but you should justify them.
– David Richerby
yesterday
add a comment |
I would say "When do I have to have finished the project by?" or "When should I have finished the project by?"
Native English speaker here
New contributor
Why would you say that? What's wrong with the phrasing in the question? On Stack Exchange, we're looking for answers that explain, not just statements of fact. As a native speaker, I think your suggestions are perfectly reasonable, but you should justify them.
– David Richerby
yesterday
add a comment |
I would say "When do I have to have finished the project by?" or "When should I have finished the project by?"
Native English speaker here
New contributor
I would say "When do I have to have finished the project by?" or "When should I have finished the project by?"
Native English speaker here
New contributor
New contributor
answered 2 days ago
WoodmanWoodman
1112
1112
New contributor
New contributor
Why would you say that? What's wrong with the phrasing in the question? On Stack Exchange, we're looking for answers that explain, not just statements of fact. As a native speaker, I think your suggestions are perfectly reasonable, but you should justify them.
– David Richerby
yesterday
add a comment |
Why would you say that? What's wrong with the phrasing in the question? On Stack Exchange, we're looking for answers that explain, not just statements of fact. As a native speaker, I think your suggestions are perfectly reasonable, but you should justify them.
– David Richerby
yesterday
Why would you say that? What's wrong with the phrasing in the question? On Stack Exchange, we're looking for answers that explain, not just statements of fact. As a native speaker, I think your suggestions are perfectly reasonable, but you should justify them.
– David Richerby
yesterday
Why would you say that? What's wrong with the phrasing in the question? On Stack Exchange, we're looking for answers that explain, not just statements of fact. As a native speaker, I think your suggestions are perfectly reasonable, but you should justify them.
– David Richerby
yesterday
add a comment |
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