since
🔊 Pronunciation
/sɪns/
📝 Preposition Type
Type: preposition
Core meaning: temporal starting point extending to present or reference point; causative connection
Can function as: preposition, adverb, conjunction
📍 Spatial Meanings
⏰ Temporal Meanings
from a specific point in the past continuing to the present
I've lived here since 2015.
She's been working here since January.
They haven't spoken since the argument.
He's been much happier since his promotion.
We've known each other since childhood.
from a past point to another past reference point
By 2010, she had been teaching since 2005.
He had lived there since childhood when I met him.
They had been married since 1990 when they divorced in 2000.
Temporal Phrases
since then: from that past point until now
“He left in 2010, and I haven't seen him since then.” “The company changed ownership in 2015. Since then, profits have doubled.” “We met in college. Since then, we've been best friends.”
ever since: continuously from a past point to now – emphasizes continuity
“I met her in 2010 and have loved her ever since.” “He injured his knee last year and has had problems ever since.” “Ever since I was a child, I've wanted to be a doctor.”
long since: a long time ago – emphasizes remoteness in past
“That building has long since been demolished.” “The tradition has long since disappeared.” “He had long since forgotten about the incident.”
since when: from what point – used in questions, often rhetorical
“Since when do you like jazz? (expressing surprise)” “Since when have you been the boss?” “Since when has that been a rule?”
💭 Abstract Meanings
Causative meaning
because; for the reason that – expressing cause or reason
Since you're here, you might as well stay for dinner.
Since it's raining, we'll stay inside.
I'll do it myself since no one else will help.
Since the report isn't ready, we'll postpone the meeting.
Since she speaks French, she can help translate.
Logical consequence: Since all mammals are warm-blooded, whales must be warm-blooded., Since the premise is false, the conclusion cannot be valid.
Justification: Since you asked nicely, I'll tell you., Since it's your birthday, you can choose the restaurant.
Given circumstances: Since we have time, let's review the proposal again., Since nobody objected, we proceeded with the plan.
🔗 Complement Structures
Noun phrase
Structure: since + noun phrase (time expression)
since Monday since last week since the beginning since my childhood since the accident since breakfast
Articles: articles used normally with time nouns; often no article with days/months
Pronoun
Structure: since + pronoun (rare, usually demonstrative)
since then since that time since this morning
Gerund
Structure: since + gerund (rare, more common with clause)
since leaving school (better: since I left school) since arriving here (better: since I arrived)
Clause
Structure: since + subject + verb (past simple or present perfect)
since I moved here since she started the job since we've known each other since the company was founded since they left
💬 Fixed Expressions & Collocations
Idioms
“since time immemorial” – from a time so long ago that it cannot be remembered (formal/literary)
“since the year dot” – for a very long time (British informal) (informal/British)
“the best/worst thing since sliced bread” – extremely good/bad innovation (informal/humorous)
Collocations
Verb + prep:
Common: has been since, have known since, has changed since, has worked since, have lived since, has existed since
Time + expressions:
Common: since yesterday, since last week/month/year, since the beginning, since childhood, since birth, since ancient times, since the dawn of time, since the start, since early morning, since the 1990s
Noun + prep:
Common: changes since, developments since, progress since, time since, period since
⚠️ Common Errors
❌ I live here since 2015. / I am living here since 2015.→✓ I have lived here since 2015. / I have been living here since 2015.
Since requires present perfect or present perfect continuous, not simple present or present continuous
Common for: Romance languages (Spanish, French, Italian), German, Slavic languages use present tense for this meaning
High impact – changes meaning and sounds unnatural impact
❌ Since two years I study English. / I study English since two years.→✓ I have studied English for two years. / I have been studying English for two years.
Confusion between 'since' (point in time) and 'for' (duration); also wrong tense
High impact – fundamental temporal distinction impact
❌ Since I have moved here, I am happy.→✓ Since I moved here, I have been happy.
The 'since' clause typically uses past simple, not present perfect; main clause needs present perfect
Medium impact – grammatically awkward impact
❌ I know him since childhood. / I work here since 2020.→✓ I have known him since childhood. / I have worked here since 2020.
Stative and dynamic verbs both require present perfect with 'since'
Common for: Many languages use simple present with stative verbs for duration
High impact impact
❌ Since when you live here? / Since when do you living here?→✓ Since when have you lived here? / Since when have you been living here?
Questions with 'since when' require present perfect, with correct auxiliary inversion
High impact – question formation error plus tense error impact
❌ I didn't see him since last week.→✓ I haven't seen him since last week.
Negative sentences with 'since' require present perfect, not simple past
Common for: Some languages can use simple past in negative contexts
High impact impact
❌ Since three days it is raining. / It is raining since three days.→✓ It has been raining for three days.
Duration requires 'for' not 'since'; also requires present perfect continuous
Common for: German, Dutch, and other Germanic languages
High impact – double error (preposition and tense) impact
❌ He has left since two hours.→✓ He left two hours ago. / It has been two hours since he left.
Cannot use 'since' with completed action + duration; use 'ago' or restructure
High impact – unnatural structure impact
⚖️ Contrasts with Similar Prepositions
Since vs vs vs for
Spatial: not applicable – both temporal
Temporal: since Monday (point) vs. for three days (duration); since 2020 (point) vs. for five years (duration)
Abstract: both require present perfect in main clause
Key difference: since = point in time when something started; for = duration/length of time
Since vs vs vs from
Temporal: since focuses on duration continuing to now; from simply marks starting point
Key difference: since implies continuation to present and requires perfect tenses; from is neutral about continuation and allows any tense
Since vs vs vs ago
Temporal: since + present perfect (continuing); ago + simple past (completed)
Key difference: since marks starting point of continuing situation; ago measures time back from now for completed action
Since vs vs vs because
Abstract: since = given that/considering that (formal); because = direct cause (neutral)
Key difference: both express cause/reason but 'since' is more formal and often implies known/given information
Since vs vs vs as
Abstract: very similar in causal meaning; 'as' slightly more formal in British English
Key difference: both can express cause but 'as' is slightly more formal and often begins sentence
🌍 Etymology
Origin: Middle English 'sithens', from Old English 'siththan' (afterwards, from that time)
Original meaning: “afterwards, subsequently, from that time onward”