淺析before和until的區(qū)別

1、淺析before和until的區(qū)別 在日常的英語學(xué)習(xí)中，我們遇到before和until時(shí)，往往會(huì)將二者搞錯(cuò)。其實(shí)，只要我們能把握住兩者在使用時(shí)本身的含義及主句動(dòng)詞是終止性的還是延續(xù)性的，是肯定式還是否定式兩大特點(diǎn)，就能很容易地解決這類問題。 一、在下列情況下，兩者可互換用，但含義略有不同。before表示“在之前”的意思，強(qiáng)調(diào)時(shí)間先后關(guān)系；而until表示“直到才”的意思，主句是肯定句則表示主句動(dòng)作的終止時(shí)間；主句是否定句則強(qiáng)調(diào)主句動(dòng)作的起始時(shí)間。  1.主句為否定式終止性謂語動(dòng)詞。常見的動(dòng)詞是open, start, leave, arrive, finish

2、, stop等。例如：  (1)The noise of the street didnt stop until/before it was midnight.  (2)The children wont come back until/before it is dark.  (3)I didnt leave the lovely boy until/before his mother came home.  2.主句為肯定式、延續(xù)性謂語詞，這類動(dòng)詞用stand, stay, talk, be, wait等。例如：  (1)He lived w

3、ith his parents until/before he graduated from school.  (2)I will wait until/before he comes to my help.  (3)I shall stay here until/before you come back.  二、下列情況下宜用before不用until. 1主句為肯定式，謂語為瞬間動(dòng)詞時(shí)只用before. （想一想為什么）1) He fell asleep before I could take off his clothes. 2) We

4、arrived there before it started to rain. 3) The holiday came to an end before I knew it. 4) He almost knocked me down before he saw me. 2主句謂語動(dòng)詞強(qiáng)調(diào)動(dòng)作的遲緩性，只用before，這時(shí)常伴有時(shí)間段狀語或時(shí)間段暗示。 It was quite a long time before he found the elephant.過了很長時(shí)間，他才找到大象。 We had walked a long way be

5、fore we found some water.走了很長的路我們才找到水。 We had sailed for two days before we saw the land.航行了兩天我們才發(fā)現(xiàn)陸地。 It was midnight before my brother came home.我哥哥直到半夜才回來。 3如果強(qiáng)調(diào)從句謂語動(dòng)作未發(fā)生就發(fā)生主句謂語動(dòng)作，只用before，這時(shí)常譯為“未及（不等）就”  1)We can leave early in the morning before it gets too hot.趁天還不太熱，我們上午早點(diǎn)

6、離開。 2)I must write it down before I forget it.趁我還未忘，我必須把它記下來。 4表示“與其說倒不如”,“與其毋寧”的意思時(shí)只用before. I would give up my job before I agree to be dismissed. 我與其被解雇還不如先辭職。 He will die of hunger before he steals.他寧愿餓死也不愿意去偷。 5在某些特定句型中用before。 It was (not) long before（不久）過了很長時(shí)間才&#

7、160;It will (not) be long before（不到）要過很長時(shí)間才會(huì) For example: It will probably not be long before they understand each other. 他們大概過不久就會(huì)互相了解。 It was not long before the whole country rose up. 不久全國人民奮起反抗。long before很早以前  三、下列情況一般使用until 1主句是持續(xù)性謂語動(dòng)詞時(shí)，肯定,否定都可以，但意義完全不同，肯定表示動(dòng)作終止，而否定表示

8、動(dòng)作開始。For example: 1)We discussed the problem until/before he came back. 我們一直討論到他回來。 2)We didnt discuss the problem until he came back. 我們一直等他回來才討論問題。（持續(xù)動(dòng)詞之否定） 2Notuntil句型盡管在某些情況下可與before互換使用，但在強(qiáng)調(diào)句中一般仍用until;  1). It was not until he told me that I knew it.直到他告訴我我才知道這件事。 2)It

9、 was not until he finished his homework that he went home.直到完成作業(yè)他才回家。 3放于句首時(shí)用until. Until he finished his homework he didnt go home. 直到完成作業(yè)他才回家。 應(yīng)注意：在使用not until時(shí)，若not until放于句首，句子應(yīng)部分倒裝。  Not until he finished his homework did he go home. 直到完成作業(yè)他才回家。 四、其他技巧 1.before只是陳述以前的事實(shí)，用until則著重后來的變化情況：This book was so interesting that he read it for three hours until he realiz