not...until的基本含義是直到...才，在...以前不。not...until的三種用法有：基本結構、強調(diào)句結構、倒裝句結構。

not...until的基本結構

基本結構：not主句+until+從句

例句：

We did not get off the busuntil it stopped.

直到車停了，我們才下了公交車

not...until的強調(diào)句結構

強調(diào)句結構：It is / was not until+從句/表時間的詞+that+主句

1、not until 后邊一般是時間點，如：

It was not until midnight that it stopped raining. 直到半夜雨才停下來。

It was not until five o"clock in the afternoon that they finished their work. 直到下午五點他們才完成工作。

2、not until 后邊也可以是陳述的句子，如：

It was not until he came to China that he realized the great change in recent decades. 直到他來到中國，他才意識到最近幾十年的巨大變化。

It was not until he got sick seriously that he realized the value of a healthy body. 直到他生重病，他才意識到一個健康體魄的價值。

3、not until 后邊還可跟介詞短語，如：

It was not until after Friday that I got his reply. 直到星期五之后，我才得到他的答復。

我們可以注意到，在以上列舉的例句中，“It is/was not until .... that 從句”句式中的“that 從句”部分都是采用一般的陳述語序(類似于賓語從句)。時態(tài)上一般采用過去時，與 it was 相呼應。

not...until的倒裝句結構

倒裝句結構：Not until+從句+倒轉的主句（主倒從不倒）

not until 引起的時間狀語置于句首時，句子的主謂應部分倒裝。由 not until 引導的時間狀語從句位于句首時，主句應部分倒裝，從句語序不變。

例句：

Not until 1998 did he return to his hometown.

直到 1998 年他才回到家鄉(xiāng).

Not until Father came back did we begin to have supper last night.

昨晚直到父親回來,我們才開始吃晚飯.