not long after的翻译

问题描述

The part of the brain responsible for fine control and movement is located in the left cerebral hemisphere, and the findings above suggest that the human brain was already asymmetrical in its structure and function not long after 2 million years ago.

请问这里”not long after 2 million years ago”是什么意思，如何翻译？

老师答疑

刘老师：

not long after 2 million years ago 结构和语义分析：

▲ not long after的用法：not long = soon，not long after = soon after

1. not long after单独使用，after是副词。意思是“（在此事）之后不久”，“此事”因上文被省略。例如：

Not long after, an inquisitive rabbit came along.  之后不久，来了一只爱管闲事的兔子。

2. not long after +事件名词，after是介词。意思是“在某事之后不久”。例如：

Not long after the wedding, the wife began to mistreat her stepdaughter. 婚礼过后不久，这位太太就开始虐待她的继女。

3. not long after +从句，after是连词。意思是“在某事发生之后不久”。例如：                   

Not long after they left, a curious thing happened. 他们走后不久,一件古怪的事情发生了。

4. not long after +时间名词（时间点），after是介词。意味着“在某时之后不久”。 例如：

He left home not long after the end of 1980. 在1980年底之后不久，他就离家出走了。

▲ the human brain was already asymmetrical in its structure and function not long after 2 million years ago. 早在200万年前之后不久，人类的大脑在结构和功能上都已经是不对称的了。