until

Question

When reading the chapter of time expression, I come to know that 'until' is particularly emphazied with its implication - continuity to a some point.
Then the verb which can be with 'until' is restricted to only activity verb or semel-factive verb. This is what I believe, though I don't quite sure of whether all kinds of verb types available is listed in my opinion. Because it is not certain that accomplishment verb could go with 'until'.

e.g. I wrote the letter until 5 o'clock.

Does the example above look flawless?
And if not, what reasons are there to be?

And Is my opinion underlined to be acceptable?

Fivejedjon · Accepted Answer

cho7712Because it is not certain that accomplishment verb could go with 'until'.e.g. I wrote the letter until 5 o'clock.

The situation denoted by "I wrote the letter" is telic. It has a clearly defined endpoint, the completion of the letter. Such situations are not normally compatible with a time-period whose end is introduced by 'until'.

However, the situation denoted by "I was writing letters" is atelic. The words themselves do not define an end-point, Such situations are compatible with a time-period whose end is introduced by 'until'.

CalifJim · Answer

cho7712I wrote the letter until 5 o'clock.
Does the example above look flawless?

It's only borderline acceptable. For some people, the until-clause will force an activity reading on 'wrote', but I wouldn't count on it. More compatible with until is a version with 'letters'.

I wrote letters until 5 o'clock.

Now the writing of letters is more clearly an activity.

So accomplishment verbs may or may not be suitable with until-clauses.
It's the whole predicate that has to be taken into account, not just the verb.
An indefinite plural object can change the predicate enough to sanction the until, for (just one) example.
_________

If you must refer only to one letter, you may want a better way to say it. Not all of these all equally elegant, but this is the general idea:

I worked on (writing) the letter until 5 o'clock.
I kept on writing the letter until 5 o'clock.
I kept revising the letter until 5 o'clock.

cho7712the verb which can be with 'until' is restricted to only activity verb or semel-factive verb.
And Is my opinion underlined ~~to be~~ acceptable?

Not really. Stative verbs are also possible.

I was at the station until 5 o'clock.

CJ

Cho7712 · Answer

Thank you all for the answers,

CalifJimIt's the whole predicate that has to be taken into account, not just the verb.An indefinite plural object can change the predicate enough to sanction the until,

fivejedjon : The words themselves do not define an end-point, Such situations are compatible with a time-period whose end is introduced by 'until'.

I was somewhat excited to feel that I found out the feature not seen in any page of my grammar book.
So I was rushed to a hasty conclusion in my opinion. Now reading your explanation, I get a wider and better view of how to deal with the original matter that I posted. Thank you again.

until

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