Difference between revisions of "Expressing "ever since" with "zicong""
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自从 means "ever since" in English, and is used to express the starting point of an action in the past. It can be followed by phrases using the markers 起 and [[After a specific time|以后]]. | 自从 means "ever since" in English, and is used to express the starting point of an action in the past. It can be followed by phrases using the markers 起 and [[After a specific time|以后]]. | ||
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| + | When you need to use 以来 in a more formal or written context, you can add 自, 从, or 自从 (or other similar words) before the time or event to make it into a "sandwich pattern." | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Structure == | ||
| + | |||
| + | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
| + | 自 / 从 / 自从 + Time / Event + 以来 | ||
| + | </div> | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Examples == | ||
| + | |||
| + | <div class="liju"> | ||
| + | |||
| + | *今年 八月 <em>以来</em> ，这里 一直 没 下 过 雨 。<span class="pinyin">Jīnnián Bāyuè <em>yǐlái</em>, zhèlǐ yīzhí méi xià guo yǔ.</span><span class="trans">It hasn't rained since August.</span> | ||
| + | *结婚 <em>以来</em> ，我们 没 吵 过 架 。<span class="pinyin">Jiéhūn <em>yǐlái</em>, wǒmen méi chǎo guo jià.</span><span class="trans">We've never had a fight since we got married.</span> | ||
| + | *<strong>从</strong> 他 爸爸 去世 <em>以来</em> ，他 一直 没 回 过 家 。<span class="pinyin"><strong>Cóng</strong> tā bàba qùshì <em>yǐlái</em>, tā yīzhí méi huí guo jiā.</span><span class="trans">He hasn't returned home since his father passed away.</span> | ||
| + | *<strong>从</strong> 毕业 <em>以来</em>，她 一直 在 教 汉语 。<span class="pinyin"><strong>Cóng</strong> bìyè <em>yǐlái</em>, tā yīzhí zài jiāo Hànyǔ.</span><span class="trans">She has been teaching Chinese since she graduated.</span> | ||
| + | *<strong>自</strong> 改革 开放 <em>以来</em> ，中国 社会 发生 了 巨大 的 变化 。<span class="pinyin"><strong>Zì</strong> gǎigé kāifàng <em>yǐlái</em>, Zhōngguó shèhuì fāshēng le jùdà de biànhuà.</span><span class="trans">Tremendous changes have been taking place in China since the reform and opening up to the outside world.</span> | ||
| + | |||
| + | </div> | ||
== Structure == | == Structure == | ||
Revision as of 07:42, 1 November 2018
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自从 means "ever since" in English, and is used to express the starting point of an action in the past. It can be followed by phrases using the markers 起 and 以后.
When you need to use 以来 in a more formal or written context, you can add 自, 从, or 自从 (or other similar words) before the time or event to make it into a "sandwich pattern."
Contents
Structure
自 / 从 / 自从 + Time / Event + 以来
Examples
- 今年 八月 以来 ，这里 一直 没 下 过 雨 。It hasn't rained since August.
- 结婚 以来 ，我们 没 吵 过 架 。We've never had a fight since we got married.
- 从 他 爸爸 去世 以来 ，他 一直 没 回 过 家 。He hasn't returned home since his father passed away.
- 从 毕业 以来，她 一直 在 教 汉语 。She has been teaching Chinese since she graduated.
- 自 改革 开放 以来 ，中国 社会 发生 了 巨大 的 变化 。Tremendous changes have been taking place in China since the reform and opening up to the outside world.
Structure
自从 + [Starting Point]
Examples
- 自从 来 到 湖南，我 越 来 越 能 吃 辣 了。Ever since arriving in Hunan, I've been more and more able to eat spicy food.
- 自从 金融 危机 爆发，就业 市场 变 得 越 来 越 不 景气 了。Ever since the economic crisis, the job market has been growing less and less.
- 自从 他 跟 我 分手 后，他 就 没有 联系 过 我。Ever since he broke up with me, he hasn't contacted me.
In the above examples, 从 can be used interchangeably with 自从. The main difference is that 从 can also be used to state starting points in the future, a little like "from" in English. 自从 cannot be used in this way.
- 从 明天 开始，我 要 认真 看 书。Starting from tomorrow, I'm going to study seriously.
- 自从 明天 开始，我 要 认真 看 书。
Note that 从 can be used to denote starting points in place and time, whereas 自从 can only be used to express starting points in time.
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
