Verb + まで
Until (something) happens
Structure
Explanation
The particle まで is used to mark an endpoint or limit, corresponding to 'until' or 'up to' in English. When it follows a verb, it signifies that an action continues right up to the point that another action occurs.
A key rule for まで is that the verb preceding it must always be in the non-past form. The overall tense of the sentence (past or present/future) is determined by the final verb at the end of the sentence or by the surrounding narrative context.
- 両親が帰るまで、ゲームをしました。I played games until my parents came home. (しました gives the whole sentence the meaning of past tense)
- 分かるまで、勉強します。I will study until I understand.
When まで follows a location, its function is comparable to the particle に. It indicates that the location is the final destination, and movement will not proceed beyond that point.
Caution
To further understand how まで interacts with past-tense situations, consider the following example and its English equivalent.
- 雨が降るまで、バスが来ませんでした。The bus didn't arrive until it started to rain.
Notice that while the English translation uses the past tense 'started', the Japanese requires the non-past form 降る 'to rain' (non-past tense). The past tense is established by the final verb, 来ませんでした (past tense), which aligns the sentence's meaning despite the structural difference from what an English speaker might anticipate.
Examples
バスが来るまで、ここで待っていました。
Until the bus came, I was waiting here.
妻が帰るまで、テレビを見ます。
Until my wife gets home, I will watch TV.
宿題を全部やるまで、ゲームはしない。
Until I finish all my homework, I won't play any games.
意味が分かるまで、何度も読みます。
Until I understand the meaning, I will read it over and over.
ご飯ができるまで、少し寝たい。
Until dinner is ready, I want to take a short nap.
料理が終わるまで、ずっと手伝いました。
Until the cooking was finished, I helped the entire time.
このパソコンは新しいのを買うまで、使います。
I will use this computer until I buy a new one.
先生に聞くまで、その問題が分からなかった。
Until I asked the teacher, I couldn't understand that problem.
赤ちゃんが起きるまで、静かにしましょう。
Until the baby wakes up, let's be quiet.
信号が青になるまで、皆は渡らなかった。
Until the traffic light turned green, nobody crossed the street.
疲れるまで、走る。
Until I get tired, I'm going to run.
店が閉まるまで、買い物した。
Until the store closed, I went shopping.