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Guest Posted 22 years ago
Grammar
About 'since' and 'until' : Can somebody help me?
Hi. I am Korean, and have a couple of questions about the usage of words, since and until.
1) Our city saw its highest level of snow yesterday since 1970.
I smoked only one cigarette since I quit smoking a month ago.
He is said to be the best teacher since the school opened.
Are these sentences correct? I was wondering, because 'since' is usually used with a main clause in present perfect tense. If these are correct, would you please explain when it's okay to use 'since' with a main clause in present or past tense? ( Is it becasue these sentences contain words like 'highest, 'only' and 'best'?)
2) I know that if someone tells me, "The store is closed untill Monday," it means the store will be open again on Monday, not Tuesday. How about "The store stayed closed until last year?"
Does it mean the store reopened last year or this year? I thought that 'until' means a particular action or state lasts up to the appointed time inclusive if it is used in a positive sentence.
Please, help me with these problems. I appreciate for your time and help.
1) Our city saw its highest level of snow yesterday since 1970.
I smoked only one cigarette since I quit smoking a month ago.
He is said to be the best teacher since the school opened.
Are these sentences correct? I was wondering, because 'since' is usually used with a main clause in present perfect tense. If these are correct, would you please explain when it's okay to use 'since' with a main clause in present or past tense? ( Is it becasue these sentences contain words like 'highest, 'only' and 'best'?)
2) I know that if someone tells me, "The store is closed untill Monday," it means the store will be open again on Monday, not Tuesday. How about "The store stayed closed until last year?"
Does it mean the store reopened last year or this year? I thought that 'until' means a particular action or state lasts up to the appointed time inclusive if it is used in a positive sentence.
Please, help me with these problems. I appreciate for your time and help.
Top answer
Yes, those sentences are correct. You said though, that "'since' is usually used with a main clause in present perfect tense". I don't think that's true.
- Yes, those sentences are correct.
- You said though, that "'since' is usually used with a main clause in present perfect tense".
- I don't think that's true.
- "Since" is simply a preposition which means "the period of time STARTING at the described moment".
- Similarly, "until" is a preposition which means "the period of time ENDING at the described moment".
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Yes, those sentences are correct.
You said though, that "'since' is usually used with a main clause in present perfect tense". I don't think that's true. "Since" is simply a preposition which means "the period of time STARTING at the described moment". Similarly, "until" is a preposition which means "the period of time ENDING at the described moment". I see no reason why you can't use t
You said though, that "'since' is usually used with a main clause in present perfect tense". I don't think that's true. "Since" is simply a preposition which means "the period of time STARTING at the described moment". Similarly, "until" is a preposition which means "the period of time ENDING at the described moment". I see no reason why you can't use t
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