一、正面翻譯

在一般情況下，since用作連詞表示“自從”時，它所引導(dǎo)從句的謂語通常應(yīng)是非延續(xù)性動詞。如：

He has grown an inch since I saw him. 我上次見到他以后他已長高了一英寸。

She has had another baby since I saw her last. 從上次我見到她以來，她又生了一個孩子。

We’ve been friends ever since we met at school. 自從我們在學(xué)校遇見以來一直是朋友。

He’s been in bed since he broke his leg. 自從他摔傷了腿，他一直躺在床上。

He has worked for us ever since he left school. 他離開學(xué)校以后就一直為我們工作。

He hasn’t stopped complaining since he got back from his holidays. 自從他休假回來，就不停地抱怨。

二、反面翻譯

但有時也可以是延續(xù)性動詞或狀態(tài)動詞，不過此時應(yīng)注意：延續(xù)性動詞或狀態(tài)動詞所表示的通常是動作或狀態(tài)的完成或結(jié)束 (而不是其開始)。試體會下列句子及其相應(yīng)的翻譯：

I haven’t heard from him since he lived in Beijing. 自從他離開北京以來，我一直未收到他的信 (“住在北京”的結(jié)束，即“離開北京”)。

He has never come to see me since I was ill. 我病愈之后他還沒來看過我 (“生病”的結(jié)束，即“病愈”)。

It has been so long since we were all together. 好久我們沒有在一起團(tuán)聚了。(“在一起”的結(jié)束就是“沒有在一起”)

注意：

如果要表示從句中的動作或狀態(tài)延續(xù)至今，就應(yīng)該用持續(xù)性動詞的現(xiàn)在完成時，而不是用一般過去時。如：

I haven’t seen you since I have been back. 我回來后一直未見到你。

I haven’t had a good meal (ever) since I’ve been here. 我自從來到這里后還沒吃過一頓好的。

I haven’t seen you since I have been back. 我回來后就一直沒見到你。

He has never been to see me since I have been ill. 我生病以來他從未來看過我。

Nothing has happened here since you’ve been away. 自你離開后，這里沒有發(fā)生什么事。

I have met him often since I have lived here. 自從我在這里住下之后，我常看見他。

I have learned a lot from him since I have known him. 自從我認(rèn)識了他，我向他學(xué)到許多東西。

This is the first storm since you’ve been here. 自從你來到這里，這才是第一場暴風(fēng)雨哩。

三、值得注意的特例

有個別時候(尤其是用于since I was a child, since we were young之類的表達(dá))，持續(xù)性動詞或狀態(tài)動詞的一般過去時也可以表示動作或狀態(tài)持續(xù)到現(xiàn)在 (多半有ever修飾)。如：

I’ve known her ever since I was a child. 自孩提時代起我就已經(jīng)認(rèn)識她了。

We have known each other since we were children. 我們從小認(rèn)識。

I have lived here since I was a child. 我從小就在這里住。

She’s been playing tennis since she was eight. 她從八歲起就打網(wǎng)球了。

Tom hasn’t been home since he was a boy. 湯姆從小離家就沒回去過。

We have lived in England since I was a child. 從我小時起我們就住在英國。