Mastering the usage of the It was not until structure along with accompanying exercises

Overview of the it was not until structure

Từ until là một giới từ chỉ thời gian, có nghĩa là tới khi. Khi đi với cấu trúc it was not until, thì mang nghĩa là mãi cho tới khi. Cấu trúc này được dùng để diễn tả một sự việc xảy ra muộn, nhấn mạnh vào thời gian xảy ra sự việc.

Cấu trúc:

E.g.:

• It was not until late night that Jame came home. (Mãi cho tới đêm muộn thì Jame mới về nhà.)
• It was not until she was 35 years old that she got married. (Mãi cho tới năm 35 tuổi thì cô ý mới lấy chồng.)
• It was not until 10 p.m that I finished my work and came home. (Mãi cho tới 10 giờ tối tôi mới làm xong việc và về nhà.)

Considerations when using the it was not until structure

Considerations regarding tense

Typically, when constructing sentences with this structure, we encounter two basic tenses: simple past and present. Using the simple past tense emphasizes a time in the past, while using the present tense emphasizes an action occurring in the present or future.

E.g.:

• It was not until the morning that I hear the birds sing. (Mãi cho tới sáng nay tôi mới nghe thấy tiếng chim hót.)
• It was not until afternoon that the rain just stopped (Mãi cho tới chiều thì mưa mới tạnh.)
• It is not until 2 pm that Tom eats lunch. (Mãi đến 2 giờ chiều Tom mới ăn trưa.)

Considerations regarding relative pronouns

Trong câu sử dụng cấu trúc it was not until, đại từ quan hệ luôn phải sử dụng là “that”.

E.g.:

Incorrect: It was not until yesterday when I met my best friend.

Similar structure to it was not until

A structure considered an inversion of 'it was not until' is 'not until'. This structure carries the same meaning as 'it was not until' but requires transformation in sentence usage.

Cấu trúc not until:

E.g.:

• Not until last year did she have a baby. (Mãi cho tới năm ngoái cô ấy mới sinh em bé.)
• Not until we had reached the top did we realize how far we had come. (Cho tới khi chúng ta chạm tới đỉnh cao, ta mới biết mình đi xa tới nhường nào.)

Exercise application

Rewrite sentences using the 'it was not until' structure and similar structures

1. We can’t see the view of the ocean until the rain stops 

– Not until …………………………………………………………….

1. Linda promised to come to the party at 7 am, but she showed up at 8 am.

-Not until …………………………………………………………….

1. It was not until my daughter called me that I stopped worrying about her

-Not until …………………………………………………………….

1. They didn’t check the email until the important report was sent

-It wasn't until …………………………………………………..

1. We don’t have any holiday until this summer comes 

-Only when ………………………………………………………..

1. It was not until 3 a.m that my sister stopped using her smartphone.

-Not until ……………………………………………………………

1. He didn’t finish it until the end of last night

– It wasn't until …………………………………………………

1. It was not until yesterday that he came back home.

-Not until ……………………………

1. No one could leave the office until after 6.30

-It wasn't until …………………………

1. I didn’t know to use motorbike until I was 22 years old

-Only when …………………………………

1. It was not until the rain stops that we can see the view of the ocean
2. Not until 8 am did Linda showed up at the party
3. Not until my daughter called me did I stop worrying about her.
4. It was not until the important report was sent that they checked the email.
5. It was not until this summer that we had a holiday.
6. Not until 3 a.m did my sister stop using her smartphone.
7. It was not until the end last night that he finished it.
8. Not until yesterday did he come back home
9. It was not until after 6.30 that we could leave the office.
10. It was not until I was 22 years old that I learned how to use a motorbike.