Difference between revisions of "Expressing "ever since" with "zicong""

Line 1: Line 1:
 
{{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]]
 
  
==Structure==
+
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]].
 +
 
 +
== Structure ==
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
自从 + [Starting Point]
 
自从 + [Starting Point]
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
==Examples==
+
== Examples ==
  
 
<div class="liju">  
 
<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>
  
Line 30: Line 32:
 
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.
 
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==
+
== See also ==
*[[From… to…]]
+
 
*[[Saying "ever since" with "yilai"]]
+
*[[Expressing "ever since" with "yilai"]]
  
 
== Sources and further reading ==
 
== Sources and further reading ==
Line 46: Line 48:
 
{{Rel char|以后}}
 
{{Rel char|以后}}
 
{{Similar|"From… To…" with "cong… dao…"}}
 
{{Similar|"From… To…" with "cong… dao…"}}
{{Similar|Saying "Ever Since" with "yilai"}}
+
{{Similar|Expressing "ever since" with "yilai"}}
 
{{Similar|Before and after with "zhiqian" and "zhihou"}}
 
{{Similar|Before and after with "zhiqian" and "zhihou"}}
 
{{Used for|Sequencing events in time}}
 
{{Used for|Sequencing events in time}}

Revision as of 06:46, 4 December 2017

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.

  • 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

HSK5