[Grammar] Is "It was not until ... that anyone..." right?

[Josohana]

Nobody could leave until 2.30
=> It was not until 2.30 that everyone could leave.

I was taught this way of conversion. However, I remember reading "It was not until 2.30 that anyone could leave" but i'm not so sure about it. Could you please tell me whether we could use 'anyone' in this case?

Thank you so much!

 

[Rover_KE]

Welcome to Using English.:-D

In that sentence, only 'anyone' is correct.

Rover

 

[Josohana]

@Rover: Thanks for giving me the answer. Would you mind explain the reason to me please? I need to make it clear to my friend, too.

 

[Rover_KE]

It is saying that not a single person (anyone) could leave before 2.30.

On reflection, 'everyone' is OK, too.

After 2.30, everybody was able to leave.

Rover

 

[5jj]

On reflection, 'everyone' is OK, too.

I don't think it is.

It wasn't until 2.30 that anyone could leave - Nobody could leave until 2.30. (The original)

It was not until 2.30 that everyone could leave. - Possibly some people could leave before 2.30.