Usage of until (until 2008 vs up to 2008)

[pavanhotscan]

Hi Alan,

can i write like this " I cannot pay the house rent until 2008"

or

" I cannot pay the house rent upto 2008 "

what is the difference between the two sentences ?

could you give me the explanation for the above sentence?

Regards
Pavan

[Mister Micawber]

.
I cannot pay the house rent until 2008 = I can start paying on 1 January 2008.

I cannot pay the house rent up to 2008 = I can never pay any rent money for the period from now to 31 December 2007.
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_________________
Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mister Micawber