In order to express a "deadline", a point in time by which an action will have been completed, you use the following expression:
by + [point in time] = d'ici + [moment dans le temps]
Look at the following examples:
Il pense avoir fini ce rapport d'ici jeudi.
He thinks he'll have finished this report by Thursday.
Vous aurez déménagé d'ici avril.
You'll have moved out by April.
Nous aurons fini de creuser la piscine d'ici le mois prochain.
We'll have finished digging the swimming pool by next month.
Marie peut te l'apporter d'ici la semaine prochaine.
Marie can bring it to you by next week.
Vous devriez le recevoir d'ici demain.
You should receive it by tomorrow.
You can also d'ici to express a duration of time within which an action will take place :
within + [duration] = d'ici + [durée]
Je dois partir d'ici une demi-heure.
I have to leave within half an hour.
Vous recevrez une réponse d'ici une semaine.
You'll get an answer within a week.
Ils doivent finir ça d'ici deux heures.
They must finish this within two hours.
But also :
Ils doivent finir ça d'ici deux heures.
They must finish this by 2 o'clock.
You will use d'ici là to say by then :
Ils seront mariés d'ici là.
They'll be married by then.
Je devrais aller mieux d'ici là.
I should feel better by then.
You can also use d'ici peu - or sous peu - to express shortly, soon :
Ma mère devrait arriver d'ici peu.
My mother should get here soon.
La version Android sera disponible sous peu.
The Android version will be available shortly.
Learn more about these related French grammar topics
Examples and resources
Ma mère devrait arriver d'ici peu.
My mother should get here soon.
Ils doivent finir ça d'ici deux heures.
They must finish this by 2 o'clock.
Marie peut te l'apporter d'ici la semaine prochaine.
Marie can bring it to you by next week.
Ils seront mariés d'ici là.
They'll be married by then.
Ils doivent finir ça d'ici deux heures.
They must finish this within two hours.
Vous aurez déménagé d'ici avril.
You'll have moved out by April.
Il pense avoir fini ce rapport d'ici jeudi.
He thinks he'll have finished this report by Thursday.
Je dois partir d'ici une demi-heure.
I have to leave within half an hour.
Je devrais aller mieux d'ici là.
I should feel better by then.
Vous devriez le recevoir d'ici demain.
You should receive it by tomorrow.
Nous aurons fini de creuser la piscine d'ici le mois prochain.
We'll have finished digging the swimming pool by next month.
Vous recevrez une réponse d'ici une semaine.
You'll get an answer within a week.
La version Android sera disponible sous peu.
The Android version will be available shortly.
Q&A
Chris
Kwiziq community member
4/06/18
Hi Jennifer,
the construction is actually very simple and parallels one in English:
Il pense avoir fini ce rapport. -- He thinks to have finished that report. (a bit stilted, admittedly).
penser quelque chose -- to think something. And "something" can also be an infinitive group such as "avoir fini".
-- Chris (not a native speaker).
Jennifer
Kwiziq community member
6/06/18
Cécile
Kwiziq language super star
4/06/18
Do you have a question Jennifer?
Donald
Kwiziq community member
6 June 2018
2 replies
Marcel sera rentré d'ici une heure.
Je comprends qu'on veut dire qu'il sera rentré chez lui <within et by>. Mais, je ne crois pas qu'il soit une difference entre les deux. On dit en anglais, il sera rentre chez lui dans une heure...? Ça veut dire <he will be home in one hour ou quoi?
Chris
Kwiziq community member
7 June 2018
7/06/18
Hi Donald,
I think that "une heure" in this context refers to a time span. If you wanted to make it clear that you were speaking of a point in time, I guess you'd use "une heure du matin".
-- Chris (not a native speaker).
Cécile
Kwiziq language super star
8 June 2018
8/06/18
Hi Donald,
Il sera rentré chez lui dans une heure.
could be translated - He will be home in an hour's time.
The difference being -
d'ici une heure= within the hour (but no longer)
dans une heure = in an hour's time (you don't expect him to be home before that time).
Hope this helps!