not…until的意思是直到...才，在...以前不。Not until可接延續(xù)性動詞和暫短性動詞。當Notuntil位于句首時，句子要倒裝，其結構為:Not until+從句/表時間的詞+助動詞+(主句)主語+謂語。

not...until的強調句結構

強調句結構：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。

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。