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jasonlulu_2000
Joined: 19 Mar 2006
Posts: 879
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 Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 4:29 am Post subject: questions |
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He worked all summer to earn enough money to buy a used motorcycle. Then, he spent hours and hours on it ____ it looked almost new.
A. until B. before
What is the difference between the two words?
What is the difference between "in case of" and "for fear of"?
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dragn
Joined: 17 Feb 2009
Posts: 450
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| Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 10:19 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
He worked all summer to earn enough money to buy a used motorcycle. Then, he spent hours and hours on it ____ it looked almost new.
A. until B. before
What is the difference between the two words? |
This question has been rattling around in the back of my mind for a couple of days now. It's rather slippery, and I'm not sure how good an answer I can give you; however, I hate to see a question get completely ignored so I'll give it a shot.
First off, most native speakers would say A. until here, and I would agree with them. Using before here just doesn't sound right.
Here are some thoughts on the use of before and until.
We can normally use either until or before when the activity or situation described in the main clause continues up to the time mentioned in the adverbial clause, or the clause that follows until or before. Sometimes this is when we want to talk about how far in the future an event is, or how long it is until (or before) something happens:
He'll have to work for three months before/until he can buy that motorcycle.
It was three months before/until he had enough money to buy that motorcycle.
In some situations, until and before can have somewhat different meanings. For example:
He used to ride a motorcycle before he moved to Taipei.
(He may have quit riding at some point prior to moving to Taipei.)
He used to ride a motorcycle until he moved to Taipei.
(Now we know he rode right up until the time he moved to Taipei.)
If the adverbial clause describes the result of the activity mentioned in the main clause, use until:
He worked on his motorcycle until it was in excellent condition.
He worked on his motorcycle before it was in excellent condition. X
The original sentence is of this basic type:
Then, he spent hours and hours on it (repairing it, cleaning it, polishing it, etc.) until it looked almost new.
| Quote: |
| What is the difference between "in case of" and "for fear of"? |
This is by no means definitive, but it's a start. I would say that for fear of would be used when you do something in order to prevent a bad result. It is typically followed by a gerund phrase:
The girls never went out alone at night for fear of being attacked.
Using in case of doesn't necessarily suggest the result is terribly bad or fearful. It basically means in the event of. It is typically followed by a noun:
The party will be held inside in case of rain.
I'm sure there's more to this, but it's late and I'm tired.
Hope this helps.
Greg |
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jasonlulu_2000
Joined: 19 Mar 2006
Posts: 879
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| Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 6:47 pm Post subject: thank you |
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Dear Greg,
Thank you very much for your help all the way.
Your expertise and impressive patience are highly appreciated.
I learn a lot every time I read your detailed reply. As for the tricky or some silly questions which I, as a non-native, come across every day, I really want to get a sound explanation, just out of kind of curiosity or interest. Your help is REALLY important to me.
Looking forward to your ever-present help! Please take care. Thank you once again.
Jason |
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