unless vs. until

[Meaningless]

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #857 "Rewriting Sentences (6)", question 7

I can't wait until I can go hiking on my vacation.
I am looking ......... to hiking on my vacation.

(a) beginning
(b) before
(c) starting
(d) forward

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #857 "Rewriting Sentences (6)", answer 7

I can't wait until I can go hiking on my vacation.
I am looking forward to hiking on my vacation.

Correct answer: (d) forward
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WHAT DOES MEAN UNLESS AND UNTILL

[Mordant]

"Unless" is a subordinating conjunction used to indicate that the action of the main clause will happen or is true barring the specified circumstance.

I will buy her flowers unless I learn that she is allergic to them.

equals

I will buy her flowers provided that I do not learn that she is allergic to them.

"Until" is a subordinating conjunction that indicates that action takes place up to a certain point. It can be swapped out of sentences for "up to the point that." It is also a preposition of equivalent meaning. Then it can be swapped with "up to."

I wrote poetry until I turned 30, when I lost interest.

equals

I wrote poetry up to the point when I turned 30, when I lost interest.

Preposition:

I was in Las Vegas until yesterday.
He kept in touch with me until graduation. Then I never heard from him again.