How to use "Until today"

Question

When I want to describe an event that has happened to this day and can continue further on, can I use UNTIL TODAY ?

EX:
1. "He has been working with me until today". Does that mean he still works with me or he has already quitted ?

2. "Until today I have not received your package". Do I have his package now ?

Swampy · Accepted Answer

I do not think you can use "until today" in your given situations in english. I actually understand why you think you could use it like that - there are constructions like this in my native language (which is lithuanian), but not in english.

The first situation (He has been working with me until today) would mean "he" has stopped working today.
The second situation (I have not received your package until today) means the package has arrived.

As I understand, you want the action to continue as in a sentence "I have not received your package yet". But you want to include the time of this day.

I'm not that good at english, so some more experienced fellows will provide more help.

Mister Micawber · Answer

When I want to describe an event that has happened to this day and can continue further on, can I use UNTIL TODAY ?

Not a wise idea; at best it is ambiguous. 'Until' does not normally include its object.

'Until 1990 I had never met a Japanese girl.'-- I met my wife in 1990.
'I have to work until 6 pm.'-- I am finished at 5:59:59, or at 6:00 I am free.

(Remember, by the way, that the temporal prepositional phrase 'until -- ' is a point reference in time, whatever the magnitude of the time word: an hour, a day, a year, a millenium.)

'He has been working with me until today'-- the work together cannot be conceived of as 'continuing further on', because you have specified a stopping-point: 'today'. This throws off the meaning of the present perfect and makes the sentence sound vague. 'He had been / was working with me until today' clarifies the matter.

'Until today I have not received your package'-- Similar problem, and similar solution. If you do not have the package, rephrase more clearly to 'I have not received your package'-- this by the nature of the present perfect includes 'today'. If you have the package, then 'I had not received / did not receive your package until today'-- again, the message becomes clear.

Anonymous · Answer

It is a bit ambiguous, but there are English writers who use this sentence construction (e.g. James Baldwin). To answer your questions, 1) He already quit and 2) You received the package.

How to use "Until today"

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