TKG English Learner's Dictionary

since

2 entries: preposition · conjunction

sincepreposition

American /sɪns/ British /sɪns/
very commondefining vocabulary

  1. starting at a particular point in time and continuing until now, or until another time mentioned

    Since usually appears with a verb in a perfect tense (have lived, had left) when it looks back from now, or from a later point, to the start of a period that continues: I have lived here since 2020. Compare for, which gives the length of a period rather than its starting point: since Monday against for three days.

    • I haven't seen him since Monday.
    • She has worked here since 2020.
    • The team had not lost a game since the spring.
    • We've been friends since college.

    Collocations

    phrase since then, since when

    Compare for (since gives the starting point of a period; for gives its length: since Monday against for three days); ago

Usage

Since is also a conjunction, joining two clauses to show a starting point in time (since I moved here, I've made new friends) or a reason (since it's raining, let's stay in); this entry covers only the preposition, used directly before a noun phrase.

Common mistakes

I live here since 2020. I have lived here since 2020.
Since usually needs a perfect tense (have lived), not the simple present, when it looks back to a starting point that continues to now.
I haven't seen him since three days. I haven't seen him for three days.
Since names a starting point in time; use for to give the length of a period.

See also since

For translators

Grammar trap Since usually pairs with a perfect tense in the main clause when it looks back to a starting point that continues to now: I have lived here since 2020, not I live here since 2020.

sinceconjunction

American /sɪns/ British /sɪns/ Since rhymes with prince.
very commondefining vocabulary

  1. from a timefrom a time in the past until now

    The main clause usually has the present perfect (have known, has been), because it describes a situation from a past time up to now. The since clause usually has the past simple, naming the moment the situation began.

    Compare for (for gives a length of time (for two years); since gives the starting point); as

    For translators (sense 1)

    Grammar trap Many languages use the present tense for a situation that began in the past and continues now. English uses the present perfect in the main clause: I have lived here since I was ten, not I live here since I was ten.

  2. becausebecause; as it is true that

    This since gives a reason that the listener probably already knows or will accept easily. It often comes at the start of the sentence.

    Synonyms because

    Compare because (because puts more weight on the reason, and is the usual answer to why)

    For translators (sense 2)

    Meaning across languages The time sense and the reason sense are expressed by different words in many languages. When the main clause is in the past simple, look at the tense to decide: since he left after has been is about time; after we took a taxi it is about a reason.

Common mistakes

I live here since I was ten. I have lived here since I was ten.
When since gives a starting time, the main clause normally uses the present perfect.
Since two years I work here. I have worked here for two years.
Use for, not since, with a length of time.

See also since (before a noun (since Monday)); since (without a following clause (I haven't seen him since))