1. 不久，即刻，很快　 before long, within a short time
2. 早，快　 early, quickly
3. 宁可，宁愿　 readily, willingly

　as ～　宁愿
　as ～ as　一…就…
　how ～　到什么时候
　no ～er than　一…就…
　quite ～　很快
　rather ～　很早
　so ～　这样早
　too ～　太早
　very ～　马上
　～ after　之后不久

　We shall soon start.　我们不久就出发。
　The teacher soon reduced the noisy class to order.　任课老师很快地把闹哄哄的班级整顿好，恢复了正常的课堂秩序。
　It was only a petty problem and they soon solved it.　那只是个小问题，他们很快就解决了。
　His suffering will soon be over.　他的苦难就要结束了。
　It will soon be Christmas.　转眼就是圣诞节了。
　The more help, the sooner done.　人手越多做事越快。
　Retail meat prices are likely to be higher soon.　肉类零售价格可能很快要上涨。
　We reached the station an hour too soon.　我们早到车站一小时。
　I'd confidently predicted they'd win, but I spoke too soon—they were beaten in the final race.　我曾经信心十足地预言他们会赢，但我讲得太早了，他们在决赛时被打败了。
　The fire brigade arrived at last, not a moment too soon.　消防队终于来了，几乎误了事。
　You spoke too soon.　你言之过早。
　How soon can you be ready?　你什么时候能准备好?
　I have to go home very soon.　我很快就得回家了。
　He'll be here very soon.　他很快就到。
　They didn't arrive as soon as we had expected.　他们到得不像我们期待的那么早。
　I would just as soon stay at home.　我宁愿呆在家里。
　I would just as soon stay as go with him.　与其跟他一起去，我倒愿意留下来。
　I would as soon not go.　我宁可不走。
　I would as soon do it now as later.　与其以后做，我宁愿现在做。
　I would as soon you didn't tell me about that.　我宁愿你不曾告诉我这种事。
　Yang Jingyu would sooner die than surrender.　杨靖宇宁死不屈。
　He received a mortal wound soon after the battle began.　战斗开始后不久，他就受到了致命的重伤。
　He arrived soon after six. 　6点刚过他就到了。

 ♣ as soon as
　一…就…　when...at once
　Come here as soon as you finish the work.　工作一结束你就到这里来一趟。
 ♣ as soon as possible
　尽早，尽快　as quickly as possible
　We must pull our company out of the financial crisis as soon as possible.　我们必须使公司尽早摆脱财政危机的困境。
　Please oblige me with a reply as soon as possible.　请尽早给予答复。
 ♣ at the soonest
　最快　with a shortest time
　I can't come until tomorrow, at the soonest.　我最快也要到明天才能来。
 ♣ no sooner...than
　一…就　when...at once
　〔说明〕 no sooner后的动词用过去完成时， than引导的从句用一般过去时。no sooner后的主谓要倒装。
　I had no sooner lain down than the telephone rang.　我刚躺下，电话铃就响了。
 ♣ sooner or later
　迟早　certainly, although one cannot be sure when
　You will repent it sooner or later.　你早晚要后悔的。
　If you drive like that, sooner or later you'll have an accident.　你如果那样开车，迟早会出事的。
 ♣ the sooner the better
　越快越好　as quickly as possible
　She could make her decision and the sooner the better.　她可以作决定，越快越好。

 ♣ soon, at once
　这两个词（组）的区别是：soon表示“不久”“很快”，强调时间很短；at once表示“马上”“立刻”，强调动作随即发生。例如：
　He soon became active in the class.　他在班上很快就变得活跃起来。
　When I heard the knock, I opened the door of the room at once.　我听到敲门声马上就把房门打开了。
 ♣ as soon as, no sooner...than, hardly...when
　这三个短语都可表示“一…就…”。其区别是：
1. as soon as可转化为no sooner...than或hardly...when结构。例如：
　
2. as soon as通常用于一般时态， no hardly...than和hardly...when通常用于过去完成时。例如：
　As soon as you finish your job, let me know.　你一完成工作就告诉我一声。
　No sooner had the doctor arrived than he began treating the sick.　医生一到马上就抢救病人。
　I had hardly started when it began to rain.　我刚动身就下起雨来了。
 ♣ soon, fast, quickly
　这三个词都可表示“很快”。其区别是：soon强调的是预期的时刻不久就会到来， fast和quickly强调的是动作进行的速度快。例如：
　Their population is growing fast.　他们的人口增长得很快。
　Come quickly, he's drowning!　快来，他溺水了。
 ♣ soon, early, quick, shortly
　参见early条。
 ♣ how soon, how long
　这两个短语的区别是：how soon的意思是“多久”，当我们就陈述句中的“过多少时间（就能…)”这一部分提问时，只能用how soon不能用how long; how long的意思是“多长”，当我们就陈述的“一段时间的长短”提问时，要用how long，不能用how soon. 试比较：
　

1. 他要多久才来?
　［误］ How long is he coming?
　［正］ How soon is he coming?
　［析］ 当表示“（在某事发生之前）将有多长时间”时，要用how soon，不可用how long.
2. 她听到敲门时，很快就打开了门。
　［误］ When she heard the knock, she opened the door soon.
　［正］ When she heard the knock, she opened the door immediately.
　［析］ soon的意思是“不久之后”，不是“立刻”的意思。
3. 在他回来前不久，午饭准备好了。
　［误］ Lunch was ready soon before he came back.
　［正］ Lunch was ready shortly before he came back.
　［析］ 表示“在…前不久”，可说shortly before...，不可说soon before.
4. 他说他宁愿死也不愿背叛自己的朋友。
　［误］ He said he'd sooner die than to betray his friend.
　［正］ He said he'd sooner die than betray his friend.
　［析］ would sooner...than...表示“宁愿…而不愿…”， would sooner和than后面都可接不带to的动词不定式。
5. 他一到就会给我打电话。
　［误］ He will phone me as soon as he will arrive.
　［正］ He will phone me as soon as he arrives.
　我一有空就会再写的。
　［误］ I will write again as soon as I shall be free.
　［正］ I will write again as soon as I am free.
　［析］ as soon as引导的状语从句中的谓语动词，只能用现在时来表示将来的时间。

　［同义词］ before long, in a little while, shortly
　［词源］　古英语sona （不久）