Use of the present perfect tense after since.....

Question

Are there any cases in which you use the present perfect tense after "since"?If so, when?Would you please give me some examples?Thank you

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

teal limeAre there any cases in which you use the present perfect tense after "since"?

Yes.

1) In the formula It has been [amount of time] since ___[pres.perf.]_____ in those cases where it focuses on the length of time when something has not occurred, in other words, when it's the equivalent of not ___[pres.perf.]_____ for [amount of time].

a) It's been a long time since the coach has seen his team so relaxed.
is a way of saying
The coach has not seen his team so relaxed for a long time.

b) It's been a while since this director has done anything as good as the film Aliens.
is a way of saying
This director has not done anything as good as the film Aliens for a while.

c) It's been about two years since he has been able to walk, even with his assistance dog, Zane.
is a way of saying
He has not been able to walk, even with his assistance dog, Zane, for about two years.

However, if you are just measuring time since a certain event occurred, use the simple past.

It has been two weeks since I passed my driver's license exam.
(I passed my driver's license exam two weeks ago.)

2) There are also other cases where the present perfect is used in both clauses.

I am sure the mayor has been making decisions since he has been elected.
Mr. Thomas says he has worked with 43 unions since he has been on the road.
Jared and his wife have been sharing the job of raising the children since he has returned from active duty.

But the present perfect is not required after since, especially when since just establishes the event that marks the beginning of the action in the main clause.

Lucy has been looking for a new job since she was fired.
The mayor has been making decisions since he was elected.
Apple has sold more than 2 million iPads since they went on sale.

3) since also means because. You use the same tense you would use after 'because', and that can be any tense.

Since I had a business meeting the next day, I chose to rent a car.
Since she was born in Canada, she is prohibited from running on a national ticket in the US.
Since she has not been a judge, she leaves no judicial opinions for us to pore over.

CJ

Use of the present perfect tense after since.....

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