Explanation
Use an until clause to show the point when something stops. The main clause shows the action or state that continues. In "We stayed at the café until it closed," "stayed" is the continuing action, "until" means "up to the point when," and "it closed" is the ending point. Japanese often uses "〜まで" for this idea, but English still needs a full clause after "until." Do not use "by" here, because "by" means "no later than," not "up to the point when."
until節は、あることが「いつ終わるか」という点を表します。主節は、続いている動作や状態です。"We stayed at the café until it closed." では、"stayed" が続いていた行動、"until" が「〜まで」、"it closed" が終わる時点です。日本語では「〜まで」で自然に言えますが、英語では "until" のあとに主語と動詞のある節が必要です。ここで "by" を使うと意味が変わり、"by" は「遅くとも〜までに」という意味になります。
Examples
- I waited until the bus came. バスが来るまで待ちました。
- We stayed at the café until it closed. 私たちはカフェが閉まるまでそこにいました。
- The shop is open until 9 p.m. その店は午後9時まで開いています。
- Can you help me until I finish this? これが終わるまで手伝ってくれますか。
- Don't leave until I call your name. 私が名前を呼ぶまで出ないでください。
- She worked here until she retired. 彼女は退職するまでここで働いていました。
Common Mistakes
Japanese learners often use "by" when they mean "until": "We stayed at the café by it closed." → "We stayed at the café until it closed." Use "until" for something that continues up to a point. Use "by" for a deadline or the latest time.
日本語の「〜まで」をそのまま "by" にしてしまうミスが多いです。誤: "We stayed at the café by it closed." 正: "We stayed at the café until it closed." 何かがその時点まで続くなら "until"、締め切りや「遅くとも〜までに」なら "by" を使います。