since
/sɪns/ (bre, ipa) · /sɪns/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈsin(t)s/ (ame, mw)
since — adverb
1. starting at a point in the past and continuing up to the present moment or up to
starting at a point in the past and continuing up to the present moment or up to a later time — used on its own, without a time expression following it
Élise quit her office job in 2021 and has been a freelance designer ever since.
ever since — emphasises continuous duration
The old cinema closed in 2018, and the building has stood empty since.
Christopher moved to Kaohsiung in 2015; he has worked at the same clinic since.
Amani hurt her back during the competition and has not been able to dance since.
- afterward
refers to a later time but does not imply continuity to the present
- subsequently
more formal; describes sequence without emphasising an ongoing state
- beforehand
refers to a time earlier than a reference point
文法句型
has/have/had + past participle + since
ever since
用法筆記
Subject of the main clause is the same person or thing continuing from the past event. Frequently paired with 'ever' for emphasis ('ever since'). This adverb sense is always placed at the end of the clause, never before a time expression.
常見錯誤
since — preposition
1. followed by a specific time, date, or event to show that something started at th
followed by a specific time, date, or event to show that something started at that point and is either still happening or was still happening at a later point
Mauricio has been teaching Spanish at the community college since last October.
since + [time phrase] — preposition pattern
The Tanaka family has lived in that house since 2012.
Since the flood, the village has built a higher wall along the river.
Yara has not touched dairy products since her food allergy test.
Since moving to the countryside, Indra has felt calmer and sleeps better at night.
- until
marks the end point rather than the starting point
文法句型
since + [time/date/year]
since + [event noun]
since + gerund
用法筆記
The time expression after 'since' must be a point in time (a date, a year, an event), not a length of time. The main clause typically uses a perfect tense (present perfect or past perfect). When 'since' starts the sentence, a comma follows the time phrase.
常見錯誤
since — conjunction
1. for the reason that; used to introduce a clause that gives the cause or explanat
for the reason that; used to introduce a clause that gives the cause or explanation for an action, decision, or situation
Since the last bus had left, Joshua decided to share a taxi with two colleagues.
since + clause [reason] at sentence start
Haruto chose not to buy the apartment since the monthly fee was too high.
Since you lost the library book, you should pay for the replacement.
Maja decided to take the slower country road since the highway was closed for repairs.
- because
stronger and more direct; better for formal or logical cause-effect statements
- as
similar in tone to causal 'since'; slightly more formal
- seeing that
informal; used when the reason is obvious from context
文法句型
since + clause [reason], + main clause
main clause + since + clause [reason]
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2 (temporal conjunction): causal 'since' can always be replaced with 'because' or 'as' without changing the timing meaning. If the sentence refers to a duration continuing from a past point, the temporal sense is intended. Causal 'since' is common in both speech and writing but is slightly weaker and more indirect than 'because' — it often presents the reason as already known to the listener.
常見錯誤
2. introduces an event or situation in the past that marks the starting point from
introduces an event or situation in the past that marks the starting point from which a continuous action or state has continued up to the present or up to a later time
Ravindra has felt much calmer since he started meditating every morning.
present perfect + since + past simple clause
The kids have not complained about dinner since their parents added a weekly menu choice.
Arjun has kept a travel journal since he visited Japan for the first time in 2019.
Since the professor changed her teaching style, attendance in the class has risen sharply.
- from the time that
more formal and explicit; used in writing to avoid ambiguity
- after
similar but 'after' does not guarantee the situation continues ('I called her after I arrived' vs 'I have known her since I arrived')
文法句型
has/have + past participle + since + clause [past simple]
had + past participle + since + clause [past perfect]
用法筆記
The clause after 'since' usually uses the past simple (a completed past event). The main clause uses the present perfect if the situation continues to now, or the past perfect if the reference time is in the past. Distinguish from sense 1 (causal): if replacing 'since' with 'because' changes the meaning, this is the temporal sense.