structure · neutral

It wasn't until + time/point + that + clause

Band 4-5speakingtask2

Used to emphasize that something happened only after a particular time or event.

Examples

“It wasn't until I moved away that I realised how close we were.”

“It wasn't until the final whistle that the team celebrated their victory.”

“It wasn't until the new law came into force that companies changed their policies.”

Band 8 sentence

“It wasn't until the independent review was published that policymakers acknowledged the need for major reform.”

Collocations

  • It wasn't until + noun phrase / time expression + that + clause

Common mistakes

It wasn't until I arrived home I realised my wallet was missing.→It wasn't until I arrived home that I realised my wallet was missing.

Not until I arrived home I realised my wallet was missing.→Not until I arrived home did I realise my wallet was missing.

Say it for a higher band

5Only after + clause→6Not until + clause + did + subject + V→7+It wasn't until + time/point + that + clause

Synonyms

Not until + clause + did + subject + V

Only after + clause + did + subject + V

Easily confused

Not until + clause + did + subject + V

“Not until the final exam did the students start revising in earnest.”

Related words

By the time + clause, clauseWhether + clause (or not)So + adjective + that + clauseEven if + clause, clauseSuch + (a/an) + noun + that + clauseIf + past perfect, would have + past participleOn the one hand + clause; on the other hand + clauseGiven that + clause, + clause

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In Complex sentences

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