until与not… until
until是up to the time when(直到……为止)的意思。可作介词,也可作连词,如:
They worked until twelve o'clock atnight.(until在这里是介词)
他们一直工作到晚上十二点。
They thought their bodies would be wellkept in these until they come back to life.(until在这里是连词)
他们以为自己的尸体在复活前将会在这些场地(金字塔)里保存得很好。
注:1.如果是表示瞬间动作的动词,如open, begin. go,see,teach等,因为不能有“一直…”的概念,则只能用于否定式,即not……until“在……以前”,“不到……不”,“直到……才”。如:
(1)I didn't go to bed until elevenlast night, so I got up late.
昨晚我十一点才睡,今天起床迟了。
(2)Don't say anything until I bringhim in.
在我带他进来之前,不要讲话。(或在我带他进来之后才讲话。)
(3)They did not begin the meetinguntil Xiau Wanggot there.他们等到小王到了那儿才开始开会。
这句不能说成: Theybegan the meeting until Xiao Wang gotthere.这里until可改用when,改写成:
They began the meeting when XiaoWang got there.
2.如果是持续性的动词,如live, work, st udy, wait等,则可用于否定式,即not until, 也可用于肯定式,即until…,但意思不同。试比较下列句子:
He studied until 11 o'clock in the evening.
他一直学习到晚上十一点。
(1)He did not study until 11 o'clock in the evening.
他直到晚上十一点才学习。
We discussed the matter until he came back.
这件事我们一直讨论到他回来。
(2)意即:他回来后也许就不讨论了。)
We did not discuss the matter untilhe came back.
直到他回来我们才讨论这件事。
(意即:他回来之前我们没有讨论。)
·学一句成语·石零
Where there's a will, there's a way
有志者事竟成。