Since 可用作副詞、介系詞和連接詞。
Since (或 since then) 當時間副詞用時意為「此後,從此,自那以後」(所指的時間可從上下文中得知)。例如:
- My grandpa left home two weeks ago and we haven’t heard from him since. (我爺爺兩週前離開了家,我們至今還沒有他的音信) - since 意為「自我爺爺兩週前離開了家以來」。
- They moved to Seattle in 2016 and they’ve made a lot of money since then. (他們在 2016 年搬到西雅圖,此後他們就賺了很多錢) - since then 意為「自 2016 年以後」)。
- I’ve long since forgotten any Spanish I ever learned. (我早就把我學過的那點西班牙文忘光了) - long since = a long time ago 或 long ago (很久以前)。