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Silak12 Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Confused when using until before negative?

Hi! everyone.I have a lot of confusion using the word "until" as in this sentence-:
1-:Health brings a freedom very few realize, until they no longer have it.(I think this sentence should be-Health brings a freedom very few realize, until they have it.(I think ,it means peoples realize the importance of health after losing it) What do you think about it? Or if the original sentence is correct then Could it be also right?-:Health brings a freedom very few realize, until they don't have it.
2-:Judge was honest until he did not allow the witnesses.(Is this sentence correct?)
If I can't use "did not" then this sentence will be-:Judge was honest until he allowed the witnesses.
I know this sentence could be right too as-:Judge was being honest up until not allowing the witnesses.
But I want to know about the no-2 sentence,Is that correct?
3-:(I also read this in the newspaper )-:Is the 76-year-old doctor ready to retire? Not until his brain doesn't work and he can't work physically, he said. That's great news for all his patients who love him so much. According to me-:This sentence is actually like this-:He will not retire until his brain doesn't work and he can't work physically.(Could you tell me what's wrong with this?
Thanks!
  

Top answer

silak12 Health brings a freedom very few realize, until they no longer have it. This is the correct form. Most people don't realize what freedom they have had by having had good health, but they do realize what freedom they had when they become ill and lose that freedom.

— CalifJim

  • silak12 Health brings a freedom very few realize, until they no longer have it.
  • This is the correct form.
  • Most people don't realize what freedom they have had by having had good health, but they do realize what freedom they had when they become ill and lose that freedom.
  • silak12 The j udge was honest until he did not allow the witnesses.
  • This is correct, but its meaning is a bit cryptic.
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4 Answers
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silak12Health brings a freedom very few realize, until they no longer have it.
This is the correct form. Most people don't realize what freedom they have had by having had good health, but they do realize what freedom they had when they become ill and lose that freedom.
silak12The judge was honest until he did not allow the witn
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CalifJimThe judge was honest until he did not allow the witnesses.
This is correct, but its meaning is a bit cryptic. Once the judge disallowed the witnesses he became dishonest. I'm not sure that that makes sense, but maybe it does in the right context.
Hi! Calif, does this make sense? -Judge was honest until when he did not allow the character witne
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silak12does this make sense? -Judge was honest until when he did not allow the character witnesses.
1. You have to have "the". The judge was ...
2. "when" is included in the meaning of "until". "until" means "until when", so you don't want or need "when".

3. The following two sentences cannot mean the same thing, though that's what you
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CalifJim The judge was honest until he did not allow the character witnesses.
My meaning to say the above sentence was-Judge was honest first, but when he did not allow the witnesses to come and give the testimony,so this was the dishonest act and therefore he became a dishonest man. Now I want to know,does my above sentence mean so?
Thanks!
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