since一般用于“现在完成时”或“一般现在时”;
since表示“自从”时,通常与现在完成时连用;
主句表示“多长时间”时,动词可用一般现在时(也可用现在完成时)。
一、since通常搭配的时态
当since表示“自从”时,不管它是用作介词、连词还是副词,它通常都要与现在完成时连用。
I've worn glasses since my childhood.
我从小就戴眼镜。
The works have been closed since January.
一月份以来这些厂就关闭了。
He's put on a lot of weight since he gave up smoking.
他戒烟后体重增加了许多。
有时连用现在完成进行时。如:
He has been working since noon.
他从中午就开始工作了。
二、since搭配时态的特殊情况
虽然since通常要与现在完成时连用,但在以下情况,它也可以连用除完成时态以外的其他时态:
1. 当主句表示“多长时间”时,动词可用一般现在时(当然也可用现在完成时)。
如:
It's a long time since I met you last.
好久不见了。
It's just a week since we arrived here.
我们到这里才一个星期。
以上各句的it is也可换成 it has been,不过在口语或非正式文体中,用一般现在时的情形比较普遍。
2. 当主句谓语动词为seem等连系动词时。
如:
It seems like years since we last met.
我们似乎几年未见面了。
It seems like years since I last saw you.
从上次见到你以来好像已经有许多年了。
3. 当主句和从句表示情况“变化”时。
如:
She doesn't come round to see us so much since her marriage.
自从结了婚,她不怎么过来看我们了。(原来经常来,结婚后就不怎么来了)
三、since引导时间状语从句的用法:
用法1:since引导的时间状语从句中用短暂性动词的过去式,主句用现在完成时或现在完成进行时。此时,整个句子可以直接按照字面意思翻译。
例句1:She has dealt with five guys since she divorced Tom.
她和汤姆离婚后和五个男人交往过。
例句2:I have been missing her since she left.
自从她离开我就一直很想念她。
用法2:since引导的时间状语从句中用延续性动词或者状态动词的过去式,主句用现在完成时或者现在完成进行时。此时,时间状语从句指示的时间是这个延续性动作结束直到现在这个时间段,翻译时不能按照字面翻译,而是按照其否定意义来翻译。
例句1:It has been almost five years since I taught high school students.
我不教高中已经大概有五年了。
例句2:I have changed my job five times since I was in Shanghai.
我离开上海后换了五次工作。
It is two years since I served in the army.自从我复员以来已经两年了。(延续性动词过去式)
It is two years since I began to serve in the army.我参军已经两年了。(短暂性动词)
用法3:since引导的时间状语从句中的动词用延续性动词的现在完成时,主句的动词用现在完成时或者现在完成进行时。此时,状语从句指示的时间是延续性动作开始一直到现在这个时间段,翻译时可以直接按照字面意思理解。
例句1:It has been almost five years since I have taught senior three students.
我从教高三开始到现在已经五年了。
例句2:I have never heard from her since she has worked there.
自从她去那工作到现在为止,我没有收到过她的来信。
用法4:since引导的时间状语从句中的动词用现在完成进行时,主句谓语动词用一般现在时。此时,不管since引导的时间状语从句的动词是延续性的还是非延续性的都不影响句子的意思,按照字面直接翻译即可。
例句1:We think highly of your up-grading spirit since you have been trying to change yourself.
从你一直努力改变自己以来,我们都高度赞赏你的上进精神。
例句2:We all admire you since you have been doing everything to help the poor.
自从你一直做任何事情帮助穷人以来,我们都很钦佩你。
四、since引导原因状语从句的用法:
since侧重主句,从句表示显然的或已为人所知的理由,常译为“因为”、“既然”,语气
比because稍弱,通常置于句首,表示一种含有勉强语气的原因。例如:
1)Since he asks you, you”ll tell him why.
他既然问你,那就告诉他为什么吧。
2)Since everyone is here, let”s start.
既然大家都到齐了,我们就出发吧!