7 Facts On Until As Conjunction: When, How, Examples

The word “until” can be used in two ways to form sentences in the English language. Now, we are going to see facts about the word “until” in the form of a “conjunction”.

The conjunction “until” is mainly used to state the meaning “by the time”. The word “until” can certainly be marked as a “conjunction” as it follows all the rules of a “subordinate conjunction”.

There are mainly three performances that are performed by a subordinate conjunction.

  1. To create a bridge between the main clause and the subordinate clause
  2. To conjoin two ideas into one idea.
  3. To finalize the incomplete meaning of the main clause with the help of another dependent clause.

Now, let us go through use of “until” as a conjunction.

When is “until” a conjunction?

The word “until” can perform two types of roles in the English language: “preposition” and “conjunction.” Let us see the situation when we can mark “until” as conjunction.

The other meaning of the conjunction “until” is “by the time”. There are mainly three situations where “until” can be used as a conjunction.

  1. To mark the main clause as the “effect” and the subordinate clause as the “cause”.
  2. To manifest “contrast”.
  3. To complete the meaning of the independent clause by connecting a dependent clause.

Example: You should sit in the chair until I put the cockroach away from the floor.

Explanation:

The word “until” can be marked as a conjunction because it shows the “cause and effect relationship” between the independent clause and the subordinate clause.

How is “until” a conjunction?

Some particular rules need to be followed by a word to be marked as a “conjunction”. Let us see how “until” is a conjunction.

We can mark “until” as a conjunction because it satisfies the below-listed rules to be a “subordinate conjunction.”

  1. The word “until” is a conjunction because it is used to connect a dependent clause with an independent clause.
  2. The word “until” is a conjunction because it is used to complete the meaning of the main clause with the help of a subordinate clause.

Example: You must not finish the cooking until the pressure whistles twice.

Explanation:

The word “until” can certainly be marked as a subordinate conjunction because it completes the meaning of the main clause by connecting the dependent clause with the independent clause.

Is “until” always a conjunction?

The word “until” comes under two types of parts of speech in the English language. Let us see the use of “until” in these two types of parts of speech.

The word “until” can perform both as a “preposition” and a “conjunction”. Placement and usage are different in both types of parts of speech.

Serial NumberTopicSentenceExplanation
1.Example of “until” as a prepositionEveryone should be here until 6 p.m.The word “until” is in use as a “preposition” in the example, as it is placed before a specific time and the term “6 p.m.” can not be regarded as a “dependent clause.”
2.Example of “until” as a conjunctionNo one should leave for home until the sun dawns.The word “until” is in use as a “conjunction” because it connects the subordinating clause “the sun dawn” with the independent main clause “No one should leave for home”.
Use of “until” as “preposition” and “conjunction”

When is “until” not considered as conjunction?

It is not required that the word “until” be always in use as a “conjunction” in the English language. Let us check the reasons behind not accepting “until” as a conjunction.

Serial NumberTopicExample
1.“Until” is not a clause if it is used in a sentence to mark a particular time.Pijush is not going to eat until 5 p.m.
2.“Until” is not a conjunction if it is placed before the main clause.Until 5 p.m. Pijush is not going to eat.
3.“Until” is not a conjunction if it does not connect the subordinate clause with the main clause.Mina played video games with her brother until midnight.
Examples where we can not use “until” as conjunction

Explanation:

We, can not mark the word “until” in all the above examples as it is in use as a “preposition” in all above examples.

What kind of conjunction is the word “until”?

There are mainly three types of conjunctions in the English language. Let us see to which group the conjunction “until” belongs.

The conjunction “until” belongs to the group of “Subordinate Conjunctions”, as the conjunction is helpful in connecting a “dependent clause” to an “independent clause”.

The three groups of conjunctions in the English language are as follows:

First Group—Coordinating Conjunctions

Second Group—Subordinating Conjunctions

Third Group—Correlative Conjunctions

Example: I can not write in the diary until I find my ink pen.

The conjunction “until” can be marked as a “subordinate conjunction” because it is used to connect the dependent clause “I find my ink-pen” to the independent clause “I can not write the diary.

Why is “until” a subordinating conjunction?

The conjunction “until” belongs to the group of “Subordinate Conjunctions” in the English language. Let us know the reasons behind marking “until” as a “Subordinate Conjunction”.

The conjunction “until” is subordinate because, like any other subordinate conjunction, “until” is also used to connect a dependent clause with an independent clause.

Example: I can not prepare the presentation until I collect some raw data from the fieldwork.

Explanation:

The subordinate conjunction “until” is used to connect the dependent clause “I collect some raw data from fieldwork” to the main clause “I can not prepare the presentation.”

Examples of “until” as conjunctions –

Now, we will see five sentences which are framed with “until” as a conjunction.

Serial NumberExampleExplanation
1.I am so excited to wear this dress that I can not wait to wear it until my wedding.The word “until” can certainly be marked as a “subordinate conjunction” because it connects the dependent clause “my wedding” with the main clause “I am so excited to wear this dress that I can not wait to wear.”
2.We have to sit here until Sandip finishes his breakfast.The word “until” can certainly be marked as a “subordinate conjunction” because it connects the dependent clause “Sandip finishes his breakfast” with the main clause “We have to sit here.”
3.We have to clean the library until our grandfather allows us to leave the place.The word “until” can certainly be marked as a “subordinate conjunction” because it connects the dependent clause ” our grandfather allows us to leave the place ” with the main clause ” We have to clean the library.”
4.No one should leave the room until Mr. Roy finishes his presentation.The word “until” can certainly be marked as a “subordinate conjunction” because it connects the dependent clause ” Mr. Roy finishes his presentation ” with the main clause ” No one should leave the room.”
5.We can not put things on the new rack until the color of the rack becomes dried.The word “until” can certainly be marked as a “subordinate conjunction” because it connects the dependent clause ” the color of the rack becomes dried ” with the main clause ” We can not put things on the new rack.”
Five Examples of “Until” as Conjunction

Conclusion –

We must make the note that we must not put a comma if we place the subordinate conjunction “until” is placed after the main clause in a sentence.