until he arrives

USAGE SUMMARY

"until he arrives" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to express the idea that something must happen before another action or event takes place. For example: "We'll have to wait until he arrives before we can start the meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

37 human-written examples

"I'm not moving from here until he arrives".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"Re-read the story every night until he arrives".

The New York Times

• Wide receiver Stephen Hill says he just cannot think about football until he arrives at the stadium.

The New York Times - Sports

Piaget's theory rests on the fundamental notion that the child develops through stages until he arrives at a stage of thinking that resembles that of an adult.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The schedule is so tight that Hodgson will not be visiting England's modest training centre in Krakow until he arrives with the squad.

Independent

He said that the event's magnitude probably will not register until he arrives in the locker room and dons the U.S. uniform.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

23 human-written examples

He was nervous until he arrived at Ms. Roth's apartment.

The New York Times

Could they possibly delay going on until he arrived?

Independent

Until he arrived, we would be stranded at the marina.

The New York Times - Magazine

The trip was kept secret until he arrived in Iraq.

The New York Times

Ryan drew laughs Wednesday when he said that the line was not good until he arrived.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "until he arrives" to clearly indicate the sequence of events, where one action is dependent on someone's arrival. For example, "We cannot start the meeting until he arrives."

Common error

Avoid mixing future tenses incorrectly with "until". For example, instead of saying "We will not start until he will arrive", say "We will not start until he arrives".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "until he arrives" functions as an adverbial clause of time, indicating the duration before a specific event (his arrival) takes place. This type of clause modifies the main verb by providing temporal context.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Academia

21%

Encyclopedias

14%

Less common in

Science

14%

Lifestyle

3%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "until he arrives" is a grammatically sound and commonly used adverbial clause of time. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. It serves to specify the temporal boundary before someone's arrival, and its register is generally neutral, making it suitable for various contexts. While alternatives like "before his arrival" or "when he arrives" exist, they carry slightly different connotations. Remember to avoid using future tense after "until" for grammatical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not until he's here

Uses a more emphatic and informal tone to specify the timing.

only after he gets here

Stresses the condition that something can only happen after he arrives.

upon his arrival

Indicates that something will happen immediately after his arrival.

before his arrival

Focuses on the time preceding his arrival as a single event.

once he makes it here

Uses a more casual expression indicating arrival.

when he has arrived

Shifts the emphasis to the state of having arrived rather than the action.

pending his coming

Emphasizes the uncertainty and anticipation of his arrival.

before he is present

Emphasizes physical presence as the condition to be met.

in anticipation of his arrival

Highlights the expectation and preparation for his arrival.

leading up to his arrival

Highlights the period of time leading up to the moment he arrives.

FAQs

How can I use "until he arrives" in a sentence?

Use "until he arrives" to specify that an action or event is postponed or contingent upon someone's arrival. For instance, "The show won't start "until he arrives"".

What's a more formal alternative to "until he arrives"?

In formal contexts, consider using "prior to his arrival" or "before his presence". These options lend a more professional tone while maintaining the original meaning. For example, "No decision will be made "prior to his arrival"".

How does "until he arrives" differ from "when he arrives"?

"Until he arrives" implies a waiting period, while "when he arrives" simply marks a point in time. "We'll wait "until he arrives"" means we're doing nothing before. "When he arrives, we'll start" means we'll begin at that moment.

Is it correct to say "until he will arrive"?

No, it is grammatically incorrect to use the future tense after "until". The correct phrasing is "until he arrives". For example, say "I will not leave "until he arrives"" not "until he will arrive".