2.before引导的时间状语从句

(1)before在引导时间状语从句时的基本意思是“在……之前”。

Before I decide what I'm going to write，I have to discuss the article with my editor．(人教大纲版高二上第11页)

我在决定写什么之前，得和编辑讨论一下要写的文章。

The plane had taken off before he arrived at the airport．

在他到达机场之前，飞机已经起飞了。

有时before引导的从句之前可以有自己的状语。

A few hours before he was put to death，Dar nay was visited by Carton in prison．(人教大纲版高三第198页)

就在他被执行死刑的几个小时前，达尔内在狱中接受了卡尔登的密访。Jules Verne died in 1905，long before any of his dreams came true．(人教大纲版高二下第11页)

早在儒勒·凡尔纳的梦想实现之前，他就在1905年去世了。

(2)before在引导时间状语从句时主从句的时态。

①由于before的词义本身已体现先后性，所以主句可用一般过去时来表示过去完成时。

The train(had)left before I reached station．

在我到达车站之前，火车已经开走了。

The bell(had)rung before we finished our work．

我们完工之前，钟就响了。

②如果before引导的状语从句用过去完成时，这时表示主句的动作发生在从句之前。

The bell rang before we had finished our work．

我们还没完工，钟就响了。

He offered me a drink before I had taken off my coat．

我还没脱下外套，他就给我递来饮料。

He arrived before I had finished my lunch．

我还没吃完午饭，他就到了。

(3)与before有关的句型。

①“It+be+段时间+before”。译成“……(之后)才”。

It was a long time before I got to sleep again．

过了良久我才睡着。

It would be months before I was fit for my job．

要过几个月我才能适应我的工作。

It was going to be some time before he would see his father again．过一段时间他才能再次见到他父亲。

It will be five years before we meet again．

还要过五年我们才可以再次见面。

It seemed seconds before he woke up．

似乎才过了几秒钟他就醒了。

提示：

before从句不可以使用将来时。

②“It not be+段时间+before”。译成“不久就”、“要不了……就会”。

It won't be long before we take the find exam．

不久我们就要期末考试了。

It wasn't long before he told us about the whole thing．

不久他就告诉了我们全部的实情。

It won't be a week before he returns．

要不了一个星期他就会回来的。

③“hardly/scarcely．．before”译成“一……就……”(=hardly．．when，scarcely．．when)。

Hardly had I left before the trouble started．

我刚离开麻烦就开始了。

We had hardly arrived before we had to go back．

我刚到就得返回。

(4)before的译法。

从上述诸例可以看出:before的基本意思是“在……之前”，译法非常灵活。下面我们探究一下从属连词before的翻译。

①“……才”(当强调主句所表达的时间、距离很长或花费的力量相对比较大的时候)。

After that it still took seven years before they finally got married．(人教大纲版高一上第32页)

他们又过了七年才结婚。

He walked 4 miles before he saw any land．

他走了四英里才看到陆地。

The fire lasted about fours before the firefighters could control it．(95人教版高一上第6页)

这场大火烧了大约四个小时消防队员们才控制住火势。

②“……就”(当强调主句所表达的时间、距离很短或花费的精力比较小的时候)。

I hadn't waited long before he came．

我没有等多久他就来了。

They had not been married for long before they quarreled．

他们结婚没多久就吵架了。

If we know more about what causes endangerment，we may be able to take measures before it is too late．(人教大纲版高一上第66页)

假如我们更多地了解致使生物濒危的起因，就能够及时采取补救措施。

③“尚未”、“来不及”、“别”、“没等……就”。

Before she could move，she heard a loud noise．(人教大纲版高一上第24页)

她还没来得及动弹，就听见有很响的声音。

Catch him before he escapes．

抓住他，别让他跑了。

However，before she could think twice，the water was upon her．(人教大纲版高一上第24页)

然而，她来不及细想洪水便逼近了。

④“在……时还没有”。

He arrived there before it began to rain．

他到达那里时天还没有下雨。

⑤“否则”。

Go before I call the police．

你走吧，不然我要叫警察了。

⑥“免得”。

Do it now before you forget．

你现在就做，免得忘了。

⑦“然后”。

I shaved before I went to the party．

我刮了脸然后去赴宴了。

⑧不知不觉(常与know，realize连用)。

The summer holiday came to an end before I know it．

不知不觉暑假就过去了。

I was so interested in the book that I had read it for three hours before I realized it．

我对那本书很感兴趣，不知不觉看了三个小时。

⑨先……再(后)……

Be a pupil before you become a teacher．

先当学生，再当老师。

Take your shoes off before you enter the room．(人教大纲版高一上第12页)

脱了鞋子再进屋。

⑩宁肯……也不愿……宁愿……也不……

He'll die of hunger before he will steal．

他定肯饿死也不愿行窃。

They would fight to death before they surrender．

他们宁愿战死也决不投降。