It wasn't long before he was caught by the police.

[tufguy]

1) It wasn't long before he was caught by the police.

2) It didn't take long before the police caught him.


Do both of these mean the same? Do these both mean "It didn't take long before he was caught"?

 

[Tarheel]

1) It wasn't long before he was caught by the police.

2) It didn't take long for the police to catch him.




Do both of these mean the same? Do these both mean "It wasn't long before he was caught"?

Yes, with my corrections.

 

[tufguy]

Yes, with my corrections.

Why was second one wrong with "Before"?

 

[tedmc]

1.The police didn't take long to catch him.
2. It didn't take long for the police to catch him

3. It didn't take long before the police caught him.(What didn't take long?)
4. It wasn't long before the police caught him.

Tufguy, can you see why sentence 3 is wrong?

 

[emsr2d2]

Why was the second one wrong with "before"?

It was wrong because "It didn't take long" doesn't work with "before". "It didn't take long" is followed by "for" and then the action, as Tarheel's post showed. To use "before", you need to start with "It wasn't long".