英語(yǔ)中，由till/until引導(dǎo)的狀語(yǔ)從句只能表示時(shí)間的一點(diǎn)，不能表示一段的時(shí)間。同時(shí)，till/until的用法具有正反兩個(gè)方面的涵義：一是當(dāng)從句的動(dòng)作/狀態(tài)一開始，主句的動(dòng)作/狀態(tài)就立即結(jié)束/消失；二是主句的動(dòng)作/狀態(tài)一直繼續(xù)到從句的動(dòng)作/狀態(tài)開始。因此，till/until引導(dǎo)的從句的謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞通常用一般時(shí)態(tài)來(lái)表示。例如：

She watched TV till her mother came back.她看電視直到她母親回來(lái)。

He will wait for you until?your father comes.他將等你到你父親來(lái)。

Einstein was not able to return to his homeland till?the war was over.直到戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)結(jié)束后愛因斯坦才得以回國(guó)。

Until you told me, I had heard nothing of what happened.直到你告訴我以前,出了什么事我一點(diǎn)也不知道。

由于till/until引導(dǎo)的從句的動(dòng)詞常具有開始或結(jié)束的體貌涵義，所以可以用完成時(shí)態(tài)來(lái)強(qiáng)調(diào)這種體貌。例如：

Continue taking readings till the temperature has fallen to room temperature. 繼續(xù)閱讀，直到溫度降至室溫。

He spoke no word and made no sigh until?I had finished the tale. 在我講完這個(gè)故事之前，他一句話也沒說(shuō)，也沒嘆氣。

由till/until引導(dǎo)的狀語(yǔ)從句一般不借助情態(tài)動(dòng)詞shall、should、will和would來(lái)表示將來(lái)的動(dòng)作/狀態(tài)；雖然偶爾可見到這種用法，但它們往往表示想象中的可能性，通常帶有虛擬語(yǔ)氣的意味，主要見于文學(xué)作品。例如(漢譯略)：

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)

從句的謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞可用進(jìn)行時(shí)態(tài)：一方面表示動(dòng)作的持續(xù)性，形象生動(dòng)；另一方面表示情況的演變和新的發(fā)展，把從句所表示的事情與主句所表示的動(dòng)作/狀態(tài)聯(lián)系在一起。這種用法一般見于文學(xué)作品，尤其是英國(guó)文學(xué)作品。例如(漢譯略)：

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)

其實(shí)關(guān)于till/until從句的時(shí)態(tài)問題，我國(guó)著名學(xué)者周海中先生在1981年發(fā)表的《Till/until從句的時(shí)態(tài)問題》一文中就給出了獨(dú)到的見解。他指出：由till/until引導(dǎo)的時(shí)間狀語(yǔ)從句的謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞往往用一般時(shí)態(tài)來(lái)表示，這是基本規(guī)則；若強(qiáng)調(diào)從句的體貌時(shí)，謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞可用完成時(shí)態(tài)來(lái)表示，有時(shí)從句的謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞可借助情態(tài)動(dòng)詞shall、should、will和would，甚至可用進(jìn)行時(shí)態(tài)，但這些都屬于特殊用法。

文/劉小芳(作者單位：華東師范大學(xué)外語(yǔ)學(xué)院)