Difference between revisions of "Expressing "ever since" with "zicong""
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{{Grammar Box}} | {{Grammar Box}} | ||
− | 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]] |
− | 自从 + [Starting point] | + | |
+ | ==Structure== | ||
+ | |||
+ | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
+ | 自从 + [Starting point] | ||
+ | |||
+ | </div> | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==Examples== | ||
+ | |||
+ | <div class="liju"> | ||
* <em>自从</em> 来 到 湖南,我 越 来 越 能 吃 辣 了。<span class="trans">Ever since arriving in Hunan, I've been more and more able to eat spicy food.</span> | * <em>自从</em> 来 到 湖南,我 越 来 越 能 吃 辣 了。<span class="trans">Ever since arriving in Hunan, I've been more and more able to eat spicy food.</span> | ||
* <em>自从</em> 金融 危机 爆发,就业 市场 变 得 越 来 越 不 景气 了。<span class="trans">Ever since the economic crisis, the job market has been growing less and less.</span> | * <em>自从</em> 金融 危机 爆发,就业 市场 变 得 越 来 越 不 景气 了。<span class="trans">Ever since the economic crisis, the job market has been growing less and less.</span> | ||
* <em>自从</em> 他 跟 我 分手 后,他 就 没有 联系 过 我。<span class="trans">Ever since he broke up with me, he hasn't contacted me.</span> | * <em>自从</em> 他 跟 我 分手 后,他 就 没有 联系 过 我。<span class="trans">Ever since he broke up with me, he hasn't contacted me.</span> | ||
− | </div> | + | </div> |
+ | |||
+ | 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. | ||
+ | |||
+ | <div class="liju"> | ||
+ | |||
+ | <ul> | ||
<li class="o"> <em>从</em> 明天 开始,我 要 认真 看 书。<span class="trans">Starting from tomorrow, I'm going to study seriously.</span> </li> | <li class="o"> <em>从</em> 明天 开始,我 要 认真 看 书。<span class="trans">Starting from tomorrow, I'm going to study seriously.</span> </li> | ||
<li class="x"> <em>自从</em> 明天 开始,我 要 认真 看 书。</li> | <li class="x"> <em>自从</em> 明天 开始,我 要 认真 看 书。</li> | ||
− | </ul> | + | </ul> |
+ | |||
+ | </div> | ||
+ | |||
+ | Note that 从 can be used to denote [["From… To…" with "cong… dao…"|starting points in place and time]], whereas 自从 can only be used to express starting points in time. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==See also== | ||
*[[From… to…]] | *[[From… to…]] | ||
− | *[[Saying "ever since" with "yilai"]] | + | *[[Saying "ever since" with "yilai"]] |
+ | |||
+ | == Sources and further reading == | ||
+ | |||
+ | === Books === | ||
+ | |||
+ | * [[Boya Chinese Lower Intermediate 1 (博雅汉语准中级加速篇) ]] (pp. 218) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7301075308/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=7301075308 →buy] | ||
+ | |||
+ | [[Category: B2 grammar points]] | ||
{{Basic Grammar|自从|B2|(自)从……|<em>自从</em> 来 了 上海 , 他 就 习惯 了 繁忙 的 生活 。|grammar point|ASGLI7GW}} | {{Basic Grammar|自从|B2|(自)从……|<em>自从</em> 来 了 上海 , 他 就 习惯 了 繁忙 的 生活 。|grammar point|ASGLI7GW}} | ||
{{Rel char|从}} | {{Rel char|从}} |
Revision as of 08:50, 26 November 2013
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Keywords
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
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