from the time
from the time — idiom
1. used to indicate that a situation or action began at a specific moment or event
used to indicate that a situation or action began at a specific moment or event in the past and continues to be true or happening now
From the time Fatima moved to Taipei, she has studied Mandarin at a language school.
from the time + past clause, present perfect in main clause
The same family has run the bakery from the time it opened in 1990.
From the time Wei Chen was twelve, he has helped his uncle repair motorcycles.
from the time + [person] + [past event], present perfect
Ana's grandmother has lived in the same village from the time she got married.
- from the time + [subject] + [past simple verb]
- from the time [clause] + [present perfect clause]
- since
more common in everyday speech; 'since' can also be followed by a simple noun phrase ('since last year'), whereas 'from the time' must introduce a full clause
- ever since
adds emphasis on continuity; 'ever since' can appear alone at the end of a sentence ('I have loved music ever since'), while 'from the time' always needs a stated starting point
Grammar Patterns
from the time + [clause describing past event], [present perfect clause]
Usage Note
The clause after 'from the time' sets the starting point; the main clause almost always uses the present perfect simple (has/have + past participle) or present perfect continuous (has/have been + -ing). This contrasts with 'since,' which can also be used as a preposition followed by a simple noun phrase (e.g. 'since 1990').