then1 /ðen/ ●●● S1 W1 adverbadv 1 THENat a particular time in the past or future 当时,那时;到时候,届时 I wish I had known then what I know now. 我真希望那时我就知道现在所知道的一切。
It was then that I realised she’d tricked me. 直到那时我才知道她骗了我。
He started his career in St Petersburg – or Leningrad as it then was. 他在圣彼得堡——当时叫列宁格勒——开始他的事业。
by/until/since then They’re sending out the results next week, so we won’t know anything until then. 他们要在下个星期寄出结果,所以我们要到那个时候才会知道。
It was late evening when the doctor arrived, and by then it was too late. 医生赶到时已是深夜,这时候已经太晚了。
That was in 1970. Since then the place has changed a lot. 那时是1970年。从那以后那地方变化很大。
They met in 1942 and from then on (=starting at that time) they were firm friends. 他们1942年认识,从那时起就一直是好朋友。
Silently she closed the door. Just then she heard a noise. 她默不作声地关上了门。 就在那时,她听到有声响。
I was paid £1,000, which was a lot of money back then (=a long time ago when things were different) in the 1950s. 他们给了我1,000英镑,在20世纪50年代那可是一大笔钱。
2 AFTERused to say what happens next or what you do next 接下来,然后 Mix the flour and butter, then add the eggs. 把面粉和黄油和在一起,然后加入鸡蛋。
Byron travelled to Italy and then to Greece. 拜伦先去意大利旅行,然后去了希腊。
3 SO/CONSEQUENTLY a) used when saying what the result of a situation or action will be 那么〔用于指某个情况或行为的结果〕 If you won’t tell him, then I will. 如果你不告诉他,那么我去跟他说。
Start off early, then you won’t have to rush. 早点动身,这样你就不必匆匆忙忙的了。
b) spoken used when you think that something is probably true because of what you know about the situation 那么〔根据所知情况作出判断〕 Still in your pyjamas? Have you just got out of bed then? 还穿着睡衣?那么你刚起床喽?
4 but then (again) BUTused to say that although something is true, something else is also true which makes the first thing seem less important 不过话又说回来 William didn’t succeed first time, but then very few people do. 威廉第一次没有成功,不过,很少有人第一次就成功的。
Elaine’s father might lend them the money, but then again he might not. 伊莱恩的父亲也许会借给他们钱,不过也可能不会借。
but then (again)• The Library of Congress Classification Scheme is very evidently enumerative, but then all the major classification schemes are.• The Kite A brother and sister argue but then Ben loses his kite and Sally rescues it.• He couldn't help feeling sorry for the chap, but then he also felt sorry for Liza.• He began it, but then he stopped because he decided that it wasn't an interesting enough story.• Innes McInnes was taller than I'd expected, but then how tall should a millionaire be?• Death still seemed impossible but then I suppose it always does.• She told me, but then quickly looked away.• Powell achieved a similar feat, but then resigned.
5 spokenXX a) used at the beginning of a conversation or activity 那么〔表示交谈或行动的开始〕 Now then, what would you like to do today? 那么,你今天想干些什么呢?
Right then, shall we start? 那好吧,我们开始好吗?
b) used at the end of a conversation, especially to show that something has been agreed 那么,那〔用于谈话结束时,表示某事已商定〕 Good, that’s settled then. We’ll all meet here next Wednesday. 好的,那就这么定了。我们下星期三全都在这儿碰头。
Okay then, I’ll see you at work. 那么好吧,上班的时候再见。
c) used to show that you are saying something because of what someone has just said 那,那么〔用于表示所说的话是对某人刚刚所说内容的回应〕 ‘We’re late.’ ‘We’d better hurry, then.’ “我们晚了。”“那么我们最好快一点。”
‘Friday’s no good.’ ‘Then how about Saturday?’ “星期五不好。”“那么星期六如何?”
6 AND/ALSOused to add something to what you have just mentioned 另外,还有 We have to invite your parents and my parents, and then there’s your brother. 我们得邀请你的父母和我的父母,另外还有你的弟弟。
7 used to refer back to what you have just been talking about 〔用于回指先前刚说过的话〕 This then was the situation facing the government at the end of the war. 这就是战争结束时摆在政府面前的情况。
8 then and there (also there and then)IMMEDIATELY immediately 立即,当场 He wasn’t prepared to wait – he wanted the money then and there. 他不打算等——他想立马拿到钱。
then and there• If I come across a mistake, I fix it right then and there.• I probably could have refused, and that would have ended the matter right then and there.• It would have been easy to shoot him right then and there.• Peter wondered about running in then and there.• She saw only the immediate need of a particular individual and tried to meet it then and there.• Two kids still refused to write unless I helped them right then and there.• For a moment he thought of phoning her, then and there, and telling her how he felt.• Mr Pasta dismisses Manuel then and there and without notice.• She decided then and there that she was not going to stand for it. → (every) now and then at now1(5)