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Are they the same?

  1. I didn't borrow the book until today.
  2. Until today, I borrowed the book.
Carol
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  • I'm not sure if this is a duplicate, but you might find this similar question interesting: https://ell.stackexchange.com/questions/325340/he-didn-t-get-married-until-he-was-well-into-his-forties-whats-the-implicatio – Juhasz Oct 20 '22 at 18:15
  • Example 1 is possible. Example 2 is meaningless. – Ronald Sole Oct 20 '22 at 20:55
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    2 is certainly unusual, although "Until today, I borrowed the book often" or "Until today, I borrowed the book once a year" are fine. Also "I borrowed the book until today" means "I borrowed the book in the past and returned it today". I think "until" works differently with negative phrases and positive phrases, as well as other factors. – Stuart F Oct 20 '22 at 21:34
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    I would say that they mean the opposite. I didn't borrow the book until today. means "I didn't borrow the book in the past, but I have done so today", whilst Until today, I borrowed the book. means "I borrowed the book some time in the past but I have returned it today - it's no longer borrowed" – Peter Jennings Oct 26 '22 at 12:09

2 Answers2

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Nope. But I wonder what actually the question is. If you had been borrowing the book in the past until today it is not the same as not borrowing it.

Harrier Panels
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No, they are not the same

I didn't borrow the book until today.

means that I had not borrowed the book before this day, when you did.

Until today, I borrowed the book.

mean that I borrowed the book, and then I returned it -- or bought it, or something else that meant it ceased to be borrowed.

Mary
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