Since en anglais : grammaire anglaise / définition
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Since
SINCE (depuis) doit être nécessairement suivi d'une date, ou du moment où l'action a commencé :
since 1933 depuis 1933
since this morning depuis ce matin
since quarter past five depuis cinq heures et quart
En revanche since ne peut pas être suivi d'une période de temps (ex : depuis 3 mois) :
How long have you been working here? Depuis combien de temps travaillez-vous ici?
- (I've been working here) Since 1999. (Je travaille ici) Depuis 1999.
- (I've been working here) For 10 years. Depuis 10 ans.
- I started 10 years ago. J'ai commencé il y a 10 ans.
- (I've been working here) Since 1999. (Je travaille ici) Depuis 1999.
- (I've been working here) For 10 years. Depuis 10 ans.
- I started 10 years ago. J'ai commencé il y a 10 ans.
Since peut être employé comme conjonction (depuis que) :
Since Horatio moved to America, he eats a lot more hot-dogs. Depuis que Horatio a déménagé aux Etats-Unis, il mange beaucoup plus de hot-dogs.
It's been four years since I last saw you. Cela fait quatre ans que je ne t'ai pas vu.
Since peut également être un adverbe (depuis lors) :
Susie graduated from Oxford several years ago and has been satisfying all of her employers ever since. Susie a été diplômée d'Oxford il y a quelques années et a satisfait tous ses employeurs depuis lors.
Enfin, on peut utiliser since dans le sens de 'as', 'because' ou 'given that'. Since permet alors d'expliquer une raison ou une motivation pour quelque chose.
Since we're going out, why don't we post that letter? Puisqu'on sort, pourquoi ne pas poster cette lettre ?
Exercice 1
Horatio has been mixing herbs and plants over 50 years, the middle of the 20th century.
Horatio has been mixing herbs and plants for 1 over 50 years, since 2 the middle of the 20th century.
1 for: As a preposition of time, 'for' indicates how long an action has lasted. In this case, 'for' tells us 'how long' Horatio has been mixing plants and herbs.
1 since: 'Since' indicates when an action began. We cannot use it here to indicate 'how long' Horatio has been mixing plants and herbs.
2 since: 'Since' indicates when an action began. It is often directly followed by a date or a time period. It is the best choice here.
2 for: As a preposition of time, 'for' indicates how long an action has lasted, not when it began!
Exercice 2
Bruno has been in love with odors he was a little boy. over 40 years, perfumes have been Bruno's passion.
Bruno has been in love with odors since 1 he was a little boy. For 2 over 40 years, perfumes have been Bruno's passion.
1 since: 'Since' indicates when an action began. It is often followed directly by a date or time (since 1953, since 9 o'clock) or by a clause which expresses the origin of an action (since he learned to read, since she married).
1 for: As a preposition of time, 'for' indicates how long an action has lasted. It can't be used in this sentence.
2 For: The preposition 'for' can be used to indicate a general period of time that is finished or still continuing, or the duration which something lasted. Example: 'For years, for months, for weeks,' etc.
2 Since: Since' is grammatically incorrect here. 'Since' isn't used to describe the duration of time, but rather to indicate when an action began.
Exercice 3
The building has been much more quiet Harold Warbuckle left. He had been yelling and screaming hours, so it was a relief he finally exited the boardroom.
The building has been much more quiet since 1 Harold Warbuckle left. He had been yelling and screaming for 2 hours, so it was a relief when 3 he finally exited the boardroom.
1 since: 'Since' is the best choice here because it indicates 'when' or 'at what moment' the building became more quiet. As a preposition of time, 'since' is often followed by a precise date, or an action which corresponds to a precise moment in time.
1 for: As a preposition of time, 'for' is usually used to describe the duration of an action. In this case, it does not fit the construction because it cannot tell us when an action began, or its starting point.
1 ago: The term 'ago' is used to situate an action in the past; it cannot be used to describe the starting point of an action which continues into the present.
1 until: 'Until' is used to indicate the time or moment when an action will finish. It can't be used to describe the starting point of an action which continues into the present.
2 for: The preposition 'for' can be used to indicate the duration of an action or event. Example: I have been living in France 'for' around five years. In this sentence, 'for' tells us 'how long' Harold has been yelling: hours. Note that 'for' is frequently used with a verb in the present perfect tense.
2 since: This is grammatically incorrect. We use the preposition 'since' to indicate the starting point of an action or event. Example: I have been living in France 'since' 2002, or 'since last year, I have gained 15 pounds'. 'Since' is often directly followed by a precise date or moment in time. Example: Since 1942, since January, since last week.
2 until: 'Until' is used to indicate the time or moment when an action will finish. It can't be used to describe duration of an action.
2 ago: The term 'ago' is used to situate an action in the past; it cannot be used to describe the starting point of an action which continues into the present.
3 when: We use the relative pronoun 'when' to refer to periods or moments of time. 'When' describes 'the moment that Harold left the building'.
3 where: In English, 'where' is never used in the relative sense to refer to a period of time. 'Where' is used to refer to location: Meet me at the place WHERE I first met you.
3 what: 'What' is used to replace general topics and subjects. We cannot use it here to refer to a moment in time.
Exercice 4
Luna DeLune has been interviewing job applicants 8:30 this morning. She's a little bit tired, but she must continue 5:00 this evening.
Luna DeLune has been interviewing job applicants since 1 8:30 this morning. She's a little bit tired, but she must continue until 2 5:00 this evening.
1 since: 'Since' is used to describe the point in time at which an action began. In this context, 'since' indicates the point in time 'when' or 'at what time' Luna began interviewing. 'Since' is often used with a verb in the present perfect form, and directly followed by a precise date or a precise moment in time. Example: Since 1942, since January, since last week.
1 for: 'For' does not make sense here. We use 'for' to express how long an action has lasted, in this case we want to know when Luna started her interviews.
1 during: 'During', similar to the terms 'while' and 'throughout', is used to link an action with an event, but it cannot be used to indicate the starting point of an action. Furthermore, 'during' is never used with the present perfect tense, which describes an action which began in the past and continues into the present.
1 ago: 'Ago' indicates how much time has passed since the action started, for example: I started going to yoga classes 3 years ago, I can now touch my toes.
2 until: 'Until' is used to indicate the time or moment when an action will finish. The term is often followed by a precise moment in time or an action which corresponds to a precise moment in time. In this sentence, 'until' tells us at what time Luna's interviews will stop.
2 since: 'Since' indicates the time at which an action began. In this case we want to know about the time that the action will finish.
2 at: 'She must continue at 5:00' indicates that Luna's interviews will 'recommence' or begin again at 5:00, which doesn't make sense given the context of the first sentence.
2 just at: 'She must continue just at 5:00' is grammatically incorrect. 'Just at 5:00' might indicate that an action will take place at precisely 5, however it cannot express when an action will finish, as the term 'until' does.
Exercice 5
the turn of the century, Delavigne has been making fine perfumes at affordable prices. As their popularity rises, the company will continue to be successful the next century.
Since 1 the turn of the century, Delavigne has been making fine perfumes at affordable prices. As their popularity rises, the company will continue to be successful until 2 the next century.
1 Since: In this phrase, 'since' indicates the time period when Delavigne began making fine perfumes. 'Since' is often used to describe the point in time at which an action began.
1 Until: 'Until' usually indicates the time an action will be finished, and we are trying to express when the action began.
2 until: 'Until' is the best choice here because it expresses how long Delavigne can continue to be a successful company.
2 since: 'Since' indicates how long an action has been going on. In this case we want to know how long Delavigne will continue to be successful, so we must use 'until' here.
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