英语中,till/until的状语从句只能表示时间的一点,不能表示一段的时间。同时,till/until的用法具有正反两个方面的涵义一是当从句的动作/状态一开始,主句的动作/状态就立即结束/消失二是主句的动作/状态一直继续到从句的动作/状态开始。因此,till/until的从句的谓语动词通常用一般时态来表示。

She watched TV till her mother came back.她看电视直到她母亲回来

He will wait for you until your father comes.他将等你到你父亲

Einstein was not able to return to his homeland till the war was over.直到战争结束后爱因斯坦才得以回国。

Until you told me, I had heard nothing of what happened.直到你告诉我以前,出了什么事我一点也不知道。

由于till/until的从句的动词常具有开始或结束的体貌涵义,所以可以用完成时态来强调这种体貌。

Continue taking readings till the temperature has fallen to room temperature. 继续阅读,直到温度降至室温。

He spoke no word and made no sigh until I had finished the tale. 在我讲完这个故事之前,他一句话也没说,也没叹气。

till/until的状语从句一般不借助情态动词shall、should、will和would来表示将来的动作/状态;虽然偶尔可见到这种用法但它们往往表示想象中的可能性,常带有虚拟语气的意味,主要见于文学作品。(汉译略):

I won't leave you till you shall be well taken care of.(C. Dickens: Little Dorrit)

She sat on her bed, waiting until her door should be unlocked; and she made her plans for the evening to come.(D. Maurier: Jamaica Inn)

They're commandeering power, water, land, and strategic materials till hell won't have it.(H. Wouk: War and Remembrance)

Therefore she moved along the bank till he would look up.(D. Lawrence: Women in Love)

从句的谓语动词可用进行时态一方面表示动作的持续性,形象生动另一方面表示情况的演变和的发展,把从句所表示的事情与主句所表示的动作/状态联系在一起。这种用法一般见于文学作品,尤其是英国文学作品。例如(汉译略):

The SID officer had him at the closed hatch opposite the galley, in first class, until he was shivering with fear.(C. Thomas: Snow Falcon)

I never saw this drop until I was flying headlong through the air.(H. Wells: The Island of Dr. Moreau)

其实关于till/until从句的时态问题,我国著名学者周海中先生在1981年发表的《Till/until从句的时态问题》一文中就给出了独到的见解。他指出:till/until的时间状语从句的谓语动词往往用一般时态来表示,这是基本规则若强调从句的体貌时,谓语动词可用完成时态来表示,有时从句的谓语动词可借助情态动词shall、should、will和would,甚至可用进行时态,但这些都属于特殊用法。

/刘小芳(作者单位:华东师范大学外语学院)