English for Monday Blues: It's only four days till Friday. until 的用

(英文藝術字by Ingrid Hsiao 我美麗又有才華的好友)

It’s only four days till Friday. 還剩四天就星期五了

till=until 但是較口語親切

簡易版

(1) He did not go out (until/by) 10:00 this morning.

(2) He stayed (until/by) 10:00 this morning.

(3) He went out (until/by) 10: 00 this morning.

答案 (1) until (2) until (3) by  

解釋

not until 直到某個時刻才開始/結束動作，所以要接瞬間動詞

until 一直持續到某一個才停止，所以要接持續性動詞/或是一段時間。

by 在某個時間點前。通常和截止deadline日期息息相關

中級 改錯

(X) He walked until the school.

(O)He walked as far as the school.

解釋

因為until 只能用在時間，不能用在空間。

中高

We’ll stay until it ______ (stop) raining.  答案是

(A) is going to stop (B) has stopped (C)  will

解釋

(B)因為until 是時間副詞的一種，只能放現在式。

 現在完成式強調會持續到那一刻