How do you use "since" in a sentence?

I've lived here since 2015. Since you're here, could you help me? We've been friends ever since school.

since

Q: What does "since" mean?

From a past time until now; because 'Since' has two main uses: indicating time from a point in the past ('since 2020') or giving a reason ('since you asked'). With the perfect tenses, it marks a starting point that continues to now. 'Ever since' emphasises continuous duration. As a conjunction meaning 'because', it's slightly more formal.

Vocabulary Word BritishAmerican ★★★★★ Very Common Neutral

Practice this with flashcards, quizzes & audio on WordLoci →

Meaning: From a past time until now; because

自从；因为

desde; ya que

〜以来；〜なので

~이래로; ~이므로

'Since' has two main uses: indicating time from a point in the past ('since 2020') or giving a reason ('since you asked'). With the perfect tenses, it marks a starting point that continues to now. 'Ever since' emphasises continuous duration. As a conjunction meaning 'because', it's slightly more formal.

「since」有两个主要用途：表示从过去某个时间点到现在（「since 2020」）或给出原因（「since you asked」）。与完成时态搭配，它标记一个持续到现在的起点。「ever since」强调持续的时间。作为表示「因为」的连词，它稍微正式一些。

«Since» tiene dos usos principales: indicar tiempo desde un punto en el pasado («since 2020») o dar una razón («since you asked»). Con los tiempos perfectos, marca un punto de inicio que continúa hasta ahora. «Ever since» enfatiza la duración continua. Como conjunción que significa «porque», es ligeramente más formal.

「since」には2つの主な用法があります：過去のある時点から現在まで（「since 2020」）、または理由を示す（「since you asked」）。完了形と共に使うと、現在まで続く起点を示します。「ever since」は継続的な期間を強調します。「〜なので」という意味の接続詞としては、やや堅い表現です。

'Since'는 두 가지 주요 용법이 있습니다: 과거의 한 시점부터의 시간을 나타내거나('since 2020') 이유를 제시합니다('since you asked'). 완료 시제와 함께 쓰여 현재까지 계속되는 시작점을 표시합니다. 'Ever since'는 지속적인 기간을 강조합니다. 'because'의 의미로 쓰일 때는 약간 더 격식적입니다.

Examples

I've lived here since 2015.
我从2015年起就住在这里。
He vivido aquí desde 2015.
2015年からここに住んでいます。
2015년부터 여기에 살고 있습니다.
Since you're here, could you help me?
既然你在这儿，能帮我一下吗？
Ya que estás aquí, ¿podrías ayudarme?
せっかくここにいるので、手伝ってもらえますか？
여기 와 있으니까, 좀 도와주시겠어요?
We've been friends ever since school.
从上学起我们就一直是朋友。
Hemos sido amigos desde el colegio.
学校の頃からずっと友達です。
학교 때부터 쭉 친구입니다.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: general

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old English 'siþþan', a contraction of 'sīþ þan' meaning 'after that', from 'sīþ' (after, late) + 'þan' (that). The causal meaning ('because') developed in the 16th century from the temporal one — the logic being that if something has been true from a given time, it can serve as a reason.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal