Menu

Until ou by ? For ou during ? Les prépositions de temps

Fiche à imprimer : le cours, les trois exercices et le corrigé (sur une page à part). Revenir au cours en ligne

Until ou by ?

Les deux se traduisent parfois par « jusqu'à », mais ils n'ont pas le même sens :

MotSensExemple
until (till)jusqu'à (l'action continue jusqu'à ce moment)I'll wait until 6 o'clock. (j'attends sans arrêt jusqu'à 6 h)
byau plus tard, d'ici (l'action est finie avant ce moment)Finish your homework by 6 o'clock. (avant 6 h, dernier délai)

For ou during ?

MotSuivi deExemple
forune durée (combien de temps ?)I slept for ten hours. We stayed for two weeks.
duringun nom de période ou d'événement (quand ?)I slept during the film. It rained during the night.
whilesujet + verbeThe phone rang while I was cooking.

Autres prépositions utiles

MotSensExemple
from ... to / untilde ... àThe shop is open from 9 to 6.
withinen moins de, d'iciYou'll receive it within three days.
sincedepuis (point de départ)I've lived here since 2020.
agoil y a (après la durée)I arrived two days ago.

Mise en situation : le rendu d'un exposé

Teacher : You must hand in your project by Friday.
Vous devez rendre votre projet vendredi au plus tard.
Inès : Can we work on it during the lesson?
On peut y travailler pendant le cours ?
Teacher : Yes, for twenty minutes. The library is open until 6 tonight.
Oui, pendant vingt minutes. La bibliothèque est ouverte jusqu'à 18 h ce soir.
Inès : Great, I'll stay there until it closes!
Super, j'y resterai jusqu'à la fermeture !

À retenir

  • until = jusqu'à (ça continue) ; by = au plus tard (délai).
  • for + durée (for two hours) ; during + nom (during the film) ; while + phrase.
  • from ... to ; within (d'ici) ; since (depuis) ; ago (il y a).

Exercice 1 : Until, by, for et during : exercice 1 (QCM)

  1. I'll wait for you ___ 6 o'clock. (j'attends jusqu'à 6 h)
    1. during
    2. by
    3. until
  2. Please send it ___ Monday. (au plus tard lundi)
    1. until
    2. for
    3. by
  3. We stayed in London ___ two weeks.
    1. since
    2. for
    3. during
  4. I fell asleep ___ the film.
    1. during
    2. for
    3. while
  5. The phone rang ___ I was in the shower.
    1. during
    2. for
    3. while
  6. The shop is open ___ 9 to 6.
    1. since
    2. from
    3. by
  7. You'll get an answer ___ three days. (d'ici trois jours)
    1. within
    2. until
    3. during
  8. I arrived two hours ___.
    1. since
    2. before of
    3. ago
  9. « Je travaille jusqu'à 18 h. »
    1. I work during 6 pm.
    2. I work by 6 pm.
    3. I work until 6 pm.
  10. « Rends-le avant vendredi (au plus tard). »
    1. Hand it in until Friday.
    2. Hand it in during Friday.
    3. Hand it in by Friday.

Exercice 2 : Until, by, for et during : exercice 2 (à compléter)

  1. I'll stay here .......................... you come back. (jusqu'à ce que)
  2. I need the report .......................... Tuesday at the latest. (au plus tard)
  3. She lived in Spain .......................... five years. (pendant)
  4. Don't talk .......................... the exam! (pendant)
  5. I read a book .......................... I was waiting. (pendant que)
  6. The museum is open .......................... 10 to 5. (de)
  7. We'll be there .......................... an hour. (d'ici)
  8. I saw him three days .......................... . (il y a)
  9. I've known her .......................... 2019. (depuis)
  10. The party went on .......................... midnight. (jusqu'à)

Exercice 3 : Until, by, for et during : mise en situation

  1. Le prof te demande de rendre ton devoir au plus tard lundi.
    1. Hand in your homework until Monday.
    2. Hand in your homework by Monday.
    3. Hand in your homework during Monday.
  2. Tu dis à ton ami que tu l'attendras jusqu'à 17 h.
    1. I'll wait for you by 5 pm.
    2. I'll wait for you until 5 pm.
    3. I'll wait for you during 5 pm.
  3. Tu racontes que tu es resté à Londres pendant une semaine.
    1. I stayed in London since a week.
    2. I stayed in London during a week.
    3. I stayed in London for a week.
  4. Tu racontes que tu t'es endormi pendant le film.
    1. I fell asleep during the film.
    2. I fell asleep for the film.
    3. I fell asleep while the film.
  5. Le téléphone a sonné pendant que tu cuisinais.
    1. The phone rang during I was cooking.
    2. The phone rang for I was cooking.
    3. The phone rang while I was cooking.
  6. Tu demandes les horaires du musée.
    1. What time is the museum open from and until?
    2. What hours is the museum open since?
    3. When opens the museum during?
  7. Le livreur dit que tu recevras ton colis d'ici deux jours.
    1. You'll receive it during two days.
    2. You'll receive it within two days.
    3. You'll receive it until two days.
  8. Tu racontes que tu es arrivé il y a une heure.
    1. I arrived since an hour.
    2. I arrived there is an hour.
    3. I arrived an hour ago.
  9. Tu dis que la boulangerie est ouverte de 7 h à 19 h.
    1. The bakery is open since 7 am until 7 pm.
    2. The bakery is open by 7 am to 7 pm.
    3. The bakery is open from 7 am to 7 pm.
  10. Tu promets de finir le projet avant vendredi.
    1. I'll finish the project during Friday.
    2. I'll finish the project until Friday.
    3. I'll finish the project by Friday.

Corrigé

Exercice 1

1. c) until · 2. c) by · 3. b) for · 4. a) during · 5. c) while · 6. b) from · 7. a) within · 8. c) ago · 9. c) I work until 6 pm. · 10. c) Hand it in by Friday.

Exercice 2

1. until · 2. by · 3. for · 4. during · 5. while · 6. from · 7. within · 8. ago · 9. since · 10. until

Exercice 3

1. b) Hand in your homework by Monday. · 2. b) I'll wait for you until 5 pm. · 3. c) I stayed in London for a week. · 4. a) I fell asleep during the film. · 5. c) The phone rang while I was cooking. · 6. a) What time is the museum open from and until? · 7. b) You'll receive it within two days. · 8. c) I arrived an hour ago. · 9. c) The bakery is open from 7 am to 7 pm. · 10. c) I'll finish the project by Friday.