(1)不久(before long;within a short time)(与动词连用，置于句子中;与too、very 或 quite 连用，置于句末)：It will～be Christmas. 圣诞节很快就要到了。He will～be back. 他马上就回来。The room～became crowded. 房间里很快就挤满了人。We got home～after the meeting. 会后不久我们就到家了。She'll be here very～. 她将很快到达这里。have to go home quite～不得不尽早回家;

(2)早，快(early;quickly)(常用于句型the sooner ... the sooner)：Why have you come so～? 你为什么这么早就来了? How～can they get ready? 他们最快要多长时间才能准备好?He came～er than I thought/expected. 他来得比我预料的快。The～er you begin the～er you'll finish. 你越早开始，就能越早完成。Least said，～est mended. 只要没人再说，事情就会过去。The～er，the better. 愈早愈好。

as soon as 一 …… 就：As～as I got home，my brother went out. 我一到家，我兄弟就出去了。

(just) as soon do sth (as do sth)同样愿意：I would (just) as～walk as ride. 我步行、骑马都行。

no sooner said than done 说到做到，毫不拖延：He asked her to get him a cup of wine. This was no～er said than done. 他要她给他拿杯酒来。话音刚落，酒就拿来了。

no sooner ... than 刚 …… 就 ……：No～er had he lain down than the telephone rang. 他刚躺下，电话铃就响了。

soon after (sb/sth)之后不久：He got back～after eight/I did.刚过8点/我刚回来他就回来了。

sooner or later 迟早：If you go on driving like that，you'll be in trouble～er or later. 你如果继续那样开车，迟早会出事的。

would sooner do ... than do 宁愿 …… 而不愿 ……：He said he'd～er die than betray his friend. 他说他宁愿去死也不背叛自己的朋友。