巧辨before和until

在日常英语教学中，我们遇到学生问这样的一些问题：1.He will spend six hours at his desk____he finishes his composition.A.before B.until C.after D.when

2.The bike hit the tree____I could get off.A.when B.before C.while D.until

3.I knocked at the door for more than five minutes____Mrs white answered it.A.until B.when C.after D.before

4.It was____yesterday____be____the secret.A.not until;that;knew B.until;when;knewC.not before;that;found D.before;that;didn't find

怎样才能清楚地解释其选择的原因，这就涉及到until与before的区别问题。实际上，只要我们把握住两者使用时本身的含义及主句动词是终止性的，还是延续性的，肯定式，还是否定式两大点，就能容易地解决这类问题。

现详细阐明如下：一、在下列情况下，两者可互换用，但含义略有不同。before表示“在……之前”的意思，强 调时间先后关系;而until表示“直到……才”的意思，主句是肯定句则表示主句动作的终止时间;主句是否定句则强调主句动作的起始时间。

1.主句为否定式终止性谓语动词。常见的动词open,start,leave,arrive,finish, stop等。

(1)The noise of the street didn't stop until/before it was midnight.

(2)The children won't come back until/before it is dark.

(3)I didn't leave the lovely boy until/before his mother came home.

2.主句为肯定式、延续性谓语词，这类动词用stand,stay,talk,be,wait等。

(1)He lived with his parents until/before he graduated from school.

(2)I will wait until/before he comes to my help.

(3)I shall stay heer until/before you come back.

二、在下列情况下，用before不用until。1.主句这肯定式、终止性谓语动词，只用before。

(1)He fell asleep before I could take off his clothes.

(2)We arrived there before it atarted to rain.

(3)The holiday came to the end befor I knew it.

(4)He almost knocked me down before he saw me.

2.主句谓语动词强调动词的迟缓性，只用before，常伴有时间段状语或时间段暗示。

(1)It was quite some time before he found the elephant at all.

(2)We had walked a long way before we found some water.

(3)We had sailed for two days before we saw the land.

(4)The fire lasted about four hours before the firefighters could countrol it.

(5)It was midnight before my brother came home.

3.如果强调从句谓语动作未发生，就发生主句谓语动作，只用before。常译为“未及”，“不”或“不等……就”。

(1)We can leave early in the morning before it gets too hot.

(2)I must write it down before I forget it.

(3)We do want to buy something now before prices go up.

4.表“与其说……倒不如”，“与其……毋宁……”只用before。

(1)I would give up my job before I'd agree to be dismissed.

(2)He will die of hunger before he will steal.

5.在某些特定句型中用before。

(1)It was not long before the whole country rose up.

(2)It will probably not be long before they understand each other.

三、下列情况一般区别用until1.主句是持续性谓语动词时，肯定、否定都可以，但意义完全不同。肯定表动作终止，而否定表动作开始。

(1)We discussed the problem until/before he came back.我们一直讨论到他回来。

(2)We didn't discuss the problem until he came back.我们一直等到他回来后才讨论问题。

2.not…until句型尽管在某些情况下可与before互换用，但在强调句中一般仍用until。

(1)It was not until he told me that I knew it.

(2)It was not until he finished his homework that he went home.

综上所述，前面的4条选择题中，第1、3题强调动作发生的迟缓性应选before。第2题表动作未及发生就发生主句动作也应选before。第4题为强调句应选A项。