109　before long和long before

① before long意为“不久，很快，一会儿后”，相当于soon，after a short while，多用于将来时或过去时中。

He will return before long. 他不久就会返回的。

Before long they got enough money to build the school. 不久，他们就弄到了足够的钱建造那所学校。

② long before意为“很久以前”，相当于long ago，before是副词，常用于过去时中。

They left their hometown long before. 他们很久以前离开家乡的。

She said that she had known your name long before. 她说她早就知道你的名字。

③ long before+句子表示“在……前很久，要过很久……才”，not long…before+句子表示“不久就……，不多久……就”，这里的before是连词。这种结构可用于过去时或将来时。

It was not long before she got everything ready. 不久，她就把一切都准备好了。

It won't be long before he finishes reading the book. 他不久就会读完这本书。

It will be long before the train arrives. 要过很久火车才能到达。

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He will be here before long. 他不久就会来这里。

He was here long before. 他很久以前在这里。

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注意下面的类似结构：

It was some days before… 过了好几天才……

It was quite some time before… 过了好半天才……

It was hours before… 过了好几个钟头才……

It will be years before… 要过好几年才……