Google
English-Test.net
Find penpals and make new friends today!
 
exceptional; special; strange; odd; curious
tall
peculiar
tender
necessary
TOEIC verbal preparation: Games to teach English Vocabulary: Adjective Noun Lists Answer
 
Username
Password
 Remember me? 
Search   Album   FAQ   Memberlist   Profile   Private messages   Register   Log in 

Use of until: Until I had learnt Italian, I didn't go to...



 
ESL/EFL Worksheets and Handouts for Students Printable, photocopiable, clearly structured
Designed for teachers and individual learners
For use in a classroom, at home, on your PC
ESL Forums | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
Structure: ...original intention as [atoned] for by your... | Use of good morning/afternoon/evening
Listening exercises
Message
Author
Use of until: Until I had learnt Italian, I didn't go to... #1 (permalink) Tue Sep 05, 2006 4:31 am   Use of until: Until I had learnt Italian, I didn't go to...
 

Hi teachers,

Please look at this sentence.

I didn't go to Italy until I had learnt Italian.

Can I put 'until' at the biginning without changing the meaning?

Until I had learnt Italian, I didn't go to Italy.

In my language, if we put until at the biginning the meaning is changed. I don't know why?

Thanks in advance

Jupiter
Jupiter
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 15 Dec 2005
Posts: 207
Location: Cambodia

Use of until: Until I had learnt Italian, I didn't go to... #2 (permalink) Tue Sep 05, 2006 5:05 am   Use of until: Until I had learnt Italian, I didn't go to...
 

.
The meaning is the same, Jupiter. But, putting the 'until' clause first puts more emphasis on that part of the sentence.

Amy
Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 8265
Location: USA

Start exploring the English language today! Subscribe to free email English courseEnglish grammar exercises — improve your English knowledge and vocabulary skillsCan you find all the prepositions in this story?Are you a native speaker of English? Then you should read this!
Use of until: Until I had learnt Italian, I didn't go to... #3 (permalink) Tue Sep 05, 2006 14:34 pm   Use of until: Until I had learnt Italian, I didn't go to...
 

I think there's a slight difference in the feel of each sentence.

"I didn't go to Italy until I had learned Italian," means to me that the person didn't dare travel to Italy until he knew he could speak Italian. Maybe he wanted to and planned to, but he made sure he learned Italian first.

"Until I had learned Italian, I didn't go to Italy," sounds to me as if the person became interested in going to Italy after he had learned Italian. Maybe he would have gone there without knowing Italian, but it so happened that he went there after he had learned the language.
Jamie (K)
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 24 Feb 2006
Posts: 5645
Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA

Display posts from previous:   
Structure: ...original intention as [atoned] for by your... | Use of good morning/afternoon/evening
ESL Forums | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms Use of until: Until I had learnt Italian, I didn't go to... All times are GMT + 1 Hour
Page 1 of 1
Latest topics on ESL EFL Forums
Live happily ever after/ afterwardsMeaning of "feet teaching"'He won’t/never set the Thames on fire'Shadowy vs. shadowedWho's the oldest child IN/OF your family?What's the obstacle FOR/IN your life?With "monotonous" ease?Conditional? (an institute of learning where I could wear)At night VERSUS in the nightMuch/more (The much/most youngest children)Quote: "Problems worthy of attack..."In time versus On timeOpposite of "punctual"The tomb owner would have eaten (about ancient Egyptian)Did you NOT tell her? Certainly, we didMeaning of "but stylish clothes"Meaning of "get her own way"At/In/On: He's is an expert at/in/on woman psychologyUse of until: Until I had learnt Italian, I didn't go to...

Discover English-test.net
Hello, I am FangFang from ChinaDifference between "tend" and "incline"Arrive home vs. Get home vs. Come homeWhat do you think of hijab(headscarf)/veil?sudden vs instantTOEIC test: Learn English Vocabulary: Abbreviation TestTOEIC test: Word games: Free Online QuizDefine N/A, no., Inc., C.O.D., Ltd., lb, H.R., attn., p.m., C.C.Pimsleur Russian, Comprehensive Course I: Pimsleur Russian Language ProgramDistributive pronoun: Some AdviceAdult esl worksheets: What Comes Next? (5)Worlds audio books, CDs, tapes, used cassettes, audio download

 
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
Subscribe to FREE email English course
First name E-mail