【问】 It was not until I had the meal ready and the family of three sat at the table for supper didthe boy appear a little relieved. (《科技英语学习》1996年第3期，汉译英栏目：《下次考好些》)

上面的译文在It was not until...之后采用主谓语倒装语序，不知是否恰当?

【答】 上面的译文是不符合英语惯用法的。只有当not until位于句首时，主句的主语和谓语才需倒装。而在It was not until之后，无论是until从句，还是that从句都不需要倒装，而且必须用连词that。因此，上面的句子应改为：

(A)It was not until… that the boy appeared…

(B)Not until I had… did the boy appear…

请对比：

1. Not till he got home did he realize that he had lost his keys. (PEG)

直到他到了家才发现他丢了钥匙。

2. It was not until I had read your letter that I understood the true state of affairs. (Eckers-ley)

直到我读了你的信，我才明白了事情的真实情况。

更详细的情形，见not until和It was not until¹。