连词 before 与连词 until 都表示主句的情景发生在从句的情景之前,那么它们有没有区别呢?
在用法上主要有两个区别:第一,带有 until 从句的肯定式主句中的谓语动词必须是持续性的,而带有 before 从句的主句中的谓语动词,则不必是持续性的。试比较:
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I waited until he returned. 我一直等到他回来。
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I shaved before I went to the party. (CGEL) 在参加宴会之前,我刮了胡子。
第二, until 引出的分句的内容是真实的, 而 before 引出的分句的内容可能是真实的, 也可能是非真实的。
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Let's wait until the rain stops. (Palmer) 让我们等到雨停吧。
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And before she could speak again I began to talk. (Wells) 她尚未再开口, 我就开始说话了。
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Pigs will fly before he'll become a mathematician. (CGEL) 他要是能当数学家,猪都会飞了。
请做下面英语试题：
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According to scientists, dinosaurs dominated the earth for 150 million years ____ they suddenly vanished 65 million years ago. A. unless B. until C. when D. then
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I will try to finish this work ____. A. up until you can come B. before you can come C. up to the time you are able to come D. until you can come(TOEFL)
before long/long before 214
- Someone called me up in the middle of the night, but they hung up ____ I could answer the phone. A. as B. since C. until D. before(全国高考,00-14)