【问】 It was not until I had read your letter that I understood the true state of affairs.

直到我读了你的信，我才明白了事情的真象。

我明白这个句子的意思，但是我不能分析这个句子的结构。请分析。

【答】 这是个标准的强调句型：It is(was) A that。这个句型中的A是被强调的成分，它可以是个单词或短语，也可以是个分句，例如，not until I had read your letter(它是全句的信息焦点)。上面的句子的非强调句型是：I didn't understand the true state of affairs until I had readyour letter.

类例：

1. It was not until I saw Margaret next morning，however，that I felt happy. (Snow)

直到我第二天早晨见到玛格丽特，才感到高兴。

2. It was not until a Saturday afternoon in May that Margaret could arrange for me to meether elder sister. (Snow)

直到五月的一个星期六的下午，玛格丽特才为我安排好去见她的姐姐。

3. It was not until his third match in 1790 that he finally beat Humphries and becameChampion of England. (New Concept English，Book 3，L. 21)

直到1790年，在第三次比赛中，他终于击败了Hamphries而成为英国的冠军。

请做下面的英语试题：

1. It was________ late in the evening that the explorers pitched camp.

A. before B. when

C. till D. not until(攻读硕士学位研究生入学考试英语试题，84B)

2. It was not_________she took off her dark glasses________ I realized she was a famousfilm star.

A. when; that B. until; that

C. until; when D. when; then(全国高考英语试题，1992)