The words 'from' and since are two of the most frequently misunderstood English. Most of us have been perplexed by these words, and many of us have mistakenly used them interchangeably in the wrong context. So, how would a learner know when to use the words "from" and "since"? The post will go over how to use the words correctly and when.
It's not just these terms; there is a slew of other perplexing words in the English language that kids misunderstand and misuse. To prevent making such errors, one should be aware of the definitions of often misunderstood words and try to comprehend how one differs from the other. Then, it will be simple for students to correctly utilize those words in phrases after they understand the differences between them. The following article will explain the differences between the terms 'from' and 'since,' clearing up any confusion you may have concerning them. Let's take a look at the following topics:
Prepositions are usually used in conjunction with a noun or a pronoun. In a sentence, prepositions are frequently used before a compliment. The prepositions' ago' and 'notwithstanding,' which follow after the complement, are an exception to this rule. There are two sorts of prepositions:
- Prepositions of time
- Prepositions of place
Although there are no restrictions for using a preposition, it is helpful to know what type of preposition to use because it aids in framing grammatically structured statements.
Prepositions are a type of word that expresses a position, place, direction, and time that cannot be expressed in any other way. The many forms of prepositions can be further divided into different units. While doing so, two prepositions, Since and From, play a significant part in mentioning the time component.
Since vs. From
Prepositions such as since and from can be used to denote a specific time period. Both prepositions indicate the beginning of a process, an occurrence, or a state of being. Their usage, however, differs significantly, and they cannot be used interchangeably. The significant distinction between since and for is that since refers to an action that has not yet been completed. The word "from" usually refers to a completed action or a future action. Furthermore, since can only be used in perfect tenses, from can be used in any tense.
On the other hand, Since is frequently used before a sentence, whereas From is rarely used before a correction. Since denotes the commencement of the action, whereas From denotes a future time. When we say since, we're referring to the fact that a movement begins in the past and ends in the present. However, we may also use From to distinguish between two things.
Since also denotes a continuous active flow. From can be used to indicate a source, cause, agency, tool, and constituent material, among other things. Since is an adverb that refers to a specific point in time in the past. From is used as a preposition before the words place, thing, person, and time.
For E.g.
- Nate has lived here since 2010.
- Nate lives here from 2010 to 2015.
The following elements are noticed after evaluating the above-mentioned sentences:
Both phrases state that Nate has lived in that location since 2010.
- The second phrase contains all of the details about Nate's whereabouts.
- The first sentence does not include all of the necessary information.
Difference Between Since and From in Tabular Form
Parameter of Comparison | Since | From |
Technical Difference |
'Since' offers an unfinished statement. For E.g.
I have been living here since 1996. It indicates that 'I' have lived and will continue to live. |
'From' offers a finished statement.
For E.g. I have been living from 1996 till 2007. 'I' was born in the year 1996 and lived till 1996. Between two moments in time, the sentence is covered. |
Different Synonyms |
Depending on the context, the word since has two meanings. It can also imply 'as a result of'.
For E.g. Since it was snowing, the match was abandoned. | ‘From’ has a single meaning and that means. |
Time of Reference | ‘Since’ can refer only past time. | ‘From’ can refer to any time. |
Location | 'Since' cannot be used to show any location because of its dual meaning. | ‘From’ can be used to denote a location. |
This table demonstrates that, while 'from' and since are both used as prepositions, they cannot be used interchangeably. This table will explain how the words 'from' and since differ from one another for pupils who have previously been confused about how to use these words. They will be able to use these words correctly if they understand the differences between them.
What is "Since"?
Since is a preposition that can be used to communicate about a specific time period. It usually refers to the commencement of a series of events, acts, or states. As a result, it attracts the reader's attention to the start of the action. It expresses a time span from the beginning to the present. It's crucial to understand that since can only be used in perfect tenses. Since is frequently used with incomplete acts. Take a look at the following examples to see how the preposition since is used.
'Since' is usually used with the present perfect, past perfect continuous, and past perfect continuous tenses. It shows the time span from the beginning to the present. We employ the past perfect tense to indicate a duration from a point in the past.
It denotes the length of time that the action will continue. 'From then until now' is also a synonym for'since.' Since can also be used to explain why something is the way it is. Since is a unique point in time. With the future tense, we can't utilise Since.
We use it as a conjunction to refer to 'from the time that.' We use it as a conjunction in the sense of 'because.' We can use use to signify an action that occurred after that period of time. We also use it to allude to a previous condition while simultaneously referring to a future event. It can also be used to describe anything or a situation.
Now let's understand its uses:
- It denotes a scenario that began in the past and is still ongoing:
- I have known Mr Roy since I was in school.
- My friend shifted to a new city since I last fought her.
- Since I met you, everything looks fantastic.
- It has been ten months since I last visited the dentist.
- It can also be used to explain why something is the way it is:
- Since you came home early, you can go to the market and bring the vegetables.
- I had the biscuit since it was the last one left in the packet.
When to Use Since?
The preposition 'since' represents the passage of time in the English language. The term 'since' refers to an occurrence that occurred from the past to the present or at some point in the history.
For E.g.
- She was suffering from cancer since she was ten.
- We have been walking since 8'O' Clock.
I noticed clearly, 'Since' is the word that is used before a point in time in the sentence.
'Since' 8'O' Clock
'Since' she was ten.
As a result, 'Since' is the word in the sentence that denotes a certain point in time.
Since' is a term used to describe something that has changed or occurred previously and continues to do so now.
For E.g.
- The wolf has been howling since last night.
- I have been searching for this DVD since last week.
The above two sentences have two critical inferences.
- The 'event' or the 'happening' is continuing.
- The sentences are only in the present perfect tense.
'In the present perfect or present perfect continuous tense, the word 'since' appears.
It's also worth noting that the use of 'Since' establishes the fact that the 'event' began at that point in time.
For E.g.
- He did not come to the field since he was sick.
- Since his father died, he did not turn up to the party.
What is "From"?
A beginning place for an action can also be indicated by the word from. However, from is frequently followed by other prepositions such as to, to, or until, all of which point to the action's conclusion. It also refers to the actual event and location. Its combination with gerund emphasizes the prohibition and restriction. When we refer to someone who has written us a letter, we say that the letter is 'From' them.
It's also the most accurate indicator of a 'time period.' It refers to the source of an item or a person. It is derived from 'Fram,' which means 'Forward, from.' In Middle English, it is derived from 'Fram,' which means 'Forward, from.' The state of being separated from someone or something is referred to as "from." It can also be used to indicate physical separation, deletion, exclusion, release, subtraction, or distinction.
When to Use From?
The preposition 'from' is used to signify time in the English language. It's also utilised to establish linkages between two components of a sentence in a variety of situations.
'From' often refers to a location's position in space.
For E.g.
- She went away from the party.
- He walked away from the wedding.
The term 'From' is used in both of these sentences to indicate the point of reference.
'From' is primarily utilised to express the time factor to give the statement completeness.
For E.g.
- The concert will run from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
- The wedding is from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The word 'from' is used to describe an object or a person's origin.
For E.g.
- He is from India.
'From' can also be used to denote a range of values.
For E.g.
- The age group for this concert starts from 12 to 60 years.
The word 'from' can also be used to denote a point.
For E.g.
- You will be able to see the snow from there.
- Can you see my house from here?
'From' indicate the source of knowledge
For E.g.
- I read a lot of top news from the magazine.
- I studied the answers from the books given by our class teacher.
The word 'from' has a wide range of meanings in the English language. It might be anything from a specific point in time to a specific location.
Main Difference Between Since and From in Points
- The significant distinction between Since and From is that 'Since' delivers an incomplete time statement, whereas 'From' gives a complete-time information.
- Since can only be used in perfect tense forms, whereas 'From' can be used in any tense form.
- 'Since' can be used in a variety of settings and has a varied meaning, such as 'due to the fact or because,' but the term 'From' can be used in a variety of contexts but does not have a different meaning.
- 'Since' can only relate to the time that has gone, whereas 'From' can refer to any period of time. For example, he will be at the office from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The sentence is in the future tense; therefore, the word since isn't permitted in such situations.
- 'Since' is a term that can only denote a moment in time and also denote causes, but it can't help but point out a location, but 'From' can also denote a place.
- Since denotes a point in time, whereas From denotes a period of time.
- On the other hand, since is the time under examination, and from is the source of someone or something.
- Since specifies when the action begins, whereas From specifies how many steps have been completed.
- On the other hand, Since is the cause of something, whereas From is the lack of something.
Conclusion
It becomes much more important to use words correctly in order to make sense. When it comes to writing, the intensity must correspond to the sentence's tone. In both written and spoken form, the proper use of 'Since' and 'From' makes a huge impact.
Because the time component of 'Since' is unresolved, 'From' completes it for the reader. 'Since' can handle the time aspect on its alone; however, 'From' requires a partner in the form of 'to' till to complete the sentence's meaning. Before choosing words, each English language speaker should adequately understand the context. After all, English is a context-dependent language with many situational words and phrases.