Till vs. Until

[Christophe]

Hi,

somebody can explain to me, if possible with some examples, the difference between till and until

another question : in this sentence above, can you tell me if it's better to say "somebody can tell me ..." or "someone can tell me ..."

Thanks a lot

[spencer]

Hi,
as far as I know ( not too far actually ) till and untill are the same, just like somebody and someone.
Let's see what others say though
Spencer

[Alan]

Hi Christophe,

Broadly there is little difference between till/until or someone/somebody.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Your Choice

[spencer]

Hi Alan!
So there IS difference!
Would You tell me what is that?

Another question:
Wich one is OK: Would you tell me what is that, or
Would you tell me what that is?

The latter is so strange somehow, but the longer I'm looking at it,the better it seems.
I'm getting sure the second is the one, but still not TOO sure.

And the third question in the combo:
Can I say: I'm getting sure?

Thank you
Spencer

[Yankee]

Hi Spencer

I'd also like to hear (read) Alan's explanation of the fine differences between the words. It's not easy to explain. My own gut reaction is: 'someone' sounds a bit more imprecise or ambiguous than 'somebody' and 'till' sounds a bit more informal than 'until'.

Regarding your second question:
"Would you tell me what that is?" is the correct sentence structure.

As to your third question:
"I'm getting sure." This sentence sounds a bit unnatural to me. What context did you have in mind?

Amy
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Amy
.
ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English

[Alan]

Hi Spencer,

I'll have to accept the challenge now offered by Amy. I think I'll take the coward's way out and agree with her definitions. I could add also add that someone has the sense of anonymity and somebody the idea of particularity. But to be less obscure let me try to explain with examples.

You would say in conversation: Oh by the way, someone phoned while you were out. I think it was a wrong number.

Again: I'll talk to somebody I know, this evening and let you know.

This difference is in line with the use of one as an impersonal pronoun: One (you don't) doesn't say that in
polite society

As for till and until, I think Amy has covered that.

Just two examples:

I'm working till Monday so I'll see you on Tuesday (informal)

This shop is closed until further notice (formal)

Alan
_________________
English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story Don't bank on it

[Christophe]

Hi,

Thanks a lot Amy, Spencer and Alan for your explanations

Bye Bye
Christophe

[spencer]

Hey Yankee,
I was going to say something like 'It's getting hot"
just probably "I'm getting sure" is not working this way.
Should I say "I'm getting to be sure" or better if I forget them all at once, and say "I'm not really sure"?
Thanks,
Spencer

[Yankee]

Hey Spencer

'It's getting hot' is a typical sentence. In this situation there is always a gradual change, which is also noticeable/measurable. (OK, on rare occasions it's not so gradual...but usually it is! )

I guess I don't like the "I'm getting sure." sentence because of the nature of the word 'sure'.

'Sure' is a "black and white" word. Either you're sure or not. Period! And the change from 'unsure' to 'sure' is not gradual, but rather there's usually a "Eureka! moment".

People don't often talk about the change in their degree of sureness, but rather what the current state of their sureness is.

People DO say things such as "I'm fairly sure." or "I'm 90 % sure." or (as you mentioned) "I'm not really sure."

In order to express a gradual change in your degree of sureness, maybe you could say "I'm getting surer and surer."

Just my personal philosophical opinion....

Bye for now
Amy

[spencer]

Thanks Amy,
I've got it.
By the way , have you seen the movie Frigt Night?
A girl played in it, her name was Amy as well (in the movie)
and she looked just like You.
Strange, isn't it?
Spencer

[Tom]