'it didn't happen until afterward"
After reading this sentence, it's not certain to interpret it as intended because "not until A" means something happened after A.
The above sentence means happened or didn't happen?
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3It did happen, after something else happened;.– Mark HubbardCommented Apr 5, 2021 at 16:14
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Thx. Can I approximately assume how long period it took until "it happend"? because I feel "until afterwards" is vague. When do you usually use this expression "until afterwards"?– gomadengCommented Apr 5, 2021 at 17:47
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We use an expression like 'B didn't happen until after A' when the point is that B happened after A, and the amount of time is not important or relevant.– Michael HarveyCommented Apr 5, 2021 at 18:47
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1 Answer
(timeline)
--------A---------B-------
--------AB----------------
--------A[---afterwards---]
Did B happen before A? No, it didn't happen until afterwards (the BrE version of afterward).
afterwards refers to the time after A happened.
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If I say "it did happen afterwards", what could be difference?– gomadengCommented Apr 5, 2021 at 17:42
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Either way, B did happen and it happened after A. I think the original sentence has a stronger stress on the relationship between A and B (and, perhaps, on the impact A had on B)– AndrewCommented Apr 5, 2021 at 19:31