not...until 是一種常用句型,意為“不到……不,只到……才……,之前……不……”。until前的句子用否定式,until后可跟從句,用肯定式,也可跟短語,作時間狀語。not...until 中的until表示“直到”,not...before 中的before表示“在……之前”,這兩個句型??蓳Q用。
He won't leave until/before 10 o'clock. 他要到10點鐘才會離開。/他10點鐘之前不會離開。
I can not give the box to you until/before I see Mary. 見到瑪麗我才能把那只箱子給你。/見到瑪麗前我不能把那只箱子給你。
They didn't stop talking until the clock struck twelve. 直到鐘敲響12點他們才停止談話。
I didn't know the truth until then. 我直到那時才了解事實真相。
It is not until the bell rang that I realized that it was past midnight. 直到鈴響了我才意識到午夜已過。
Until you told me about it the day before yesterday, I had no idea of it. 直到你前天告訴我,我才知道。
提示
如果主句謂語動詞是延續(xù)性的,表示“直到……才”時,該動詞可用肯定式或否定式;如果主句謂語動詞是非延續(xù)性的(go, start, leave等),表示“直到……才”時,該動詞只能用否定式。
He won't stay here until she comes. 他在這里將不待到她來。
She won't live here until next month. 她在這里將不住到下個月。
I didn't wait until he returned. 我沒有等到他回來。
He won't go until six o'clock. (正)要到6點鐘他才去。
He will go until six o'clock. (誤)