Before 在英語中是一個比較常用的虛詞,它既可作介詞或副詞用,也可作從屬連詞用.在近幾年的高考試題中常常出現(xiàn)考查其從屬連詞用法的題目.下面就把其作為從屬連詞的用法歸納如下：
1.表示“在…..之前就…..”.
Mary had finished her homework before her mother returned.
2.表示“過了多久后才……..,動作進行到什么程度才……”
The man almost knocked me down before he saw me .
They walked about 30 miles to the west before they saw a village .
They worked day and night about three days before everything returned to normal .
3.表示“來不及； 尚未…..就…”
Before I could get in a word ,he had measured me .
He ran off before I could stop him .
She left the company before I could have a word with her .
4.表示“剛…就…”
I had hardly sat down before the bell rang.
5.表示“不知不覺就…..； 還沒弄清就……”
Time passed quickly and three months went by before Aqiao knew it.
6.表示“寧愿…,決不…,與其…,毋寧….”常與will 或would 連用.
I would die before I would tell
I’d shoot myself before I apologized to him.
I would / will die before I surrender .
7.表示“否則；以免”
Do it now before you forget .I will write it down before I forget it .
8.用于句型“it was +時間段+ before …” 表示 “過了多久才…”
It was three days before he came back..
9.用于句型 “ it was not long +時間段+ before …” 意為“不久就….”
It was not long before he sensed the danger of the position .
10.用于句型“it will be(not )+時間段+ before….”表示“要過多久/ 不久…才…”
It will be half a year before you graduate from this school .
It will be not long before you find you are wrong .