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Since
Since
introduce a reason.
Since: time
We use since to refer back to a previous point in time. We use since as a preposition with a date, a time
or a noun phrase:
It was the band’s first live performance since May 1990. (since + date)
I have been happily married for 26 years, since the age of 21. (since + noun phrase)
Lenny had slept most of the way since leaving Texas. (since + clause)
He’s been back to the office a few times since he retired. (since + clause)
When since introduces an action or event at a point of time in the past, we can use the past simple or
present perfect after since and the present perfect in the main clause:
They haven’t received any junk mail since they moved house.
They haven’t received any junk mail since they’ve moved house.
We can use the past simple, present perfect or past perfect after since with the expression it + be + time
+ since:
It’s been years since … is more common in American English than It’s years since ….
When since introduces a state in the past that is still continuing in the present, we use a present perfect
form of the verb after since and a present perfect form of the verb in the main clause:
See also:
For or since?
Since + -ing
We can use since + -ing form to refer to time when the subject of the verb is the same in the main clause
and the subordinate clause:
Since leaving school, he has had three or four temporary jobs. (Since he left school, he has …)
Since moving from a Chicago suburb to southern California a few months ago, I’ve learned how to play a
new game called Lanesmanship. (Since I moved …, I’ve learned …)
We can use since or since then as an adverb of time when the time reference is understood from the
context:
His father doesn’t talk to him. They had an argument a couple of years ago and they haven’t spoken
since. (since they had the argument)
They bought the house in 2006 and they’ve done a lot of work on it since then. (since 2006)
When I was young, I had a little collie dog, but one day he bit me really badly. I’ve hated dogs ever since.
Since: reason
Since her husband hated holidays so much, she decided to go on her own.
They couldn’t deliver the parcel since no one was there to answer the door.
See also:
As
Because
We use since, not from, with a clause referring back to a point in time:
I think I should have my money back since I didn’t have what was promised in the brochure.
We use since, not ago, after ‘it’s a long time’ when we refer back to a point in time: