since 用法一次搞懂：5種常見錯誤及避免方法（英文必學） [Mastering the Use of ‘Since’: 5 Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them]

「since」是英文基礎卻易混淆的文法重點，尤其在時態搭配及用法上，許多學習者與職場工作者易犯錯誤。本文完整解析 since 的正確用法、五大常見錯誤與避免方法，並以清晰表格、例句對照與用法檢查清單讓你一次徹底搞懂。

把握正確句型與語境，將讓你的英文變得更精準專業，無論國考、工作、報告或日常溝通都不再出錯！

since 用法完整解析

「since」在英文文法中擁有雙重角色，既可表示「自從（某時）」的時間起點，也能作為連接詞表示因果關係，意思類似 because 或 as，其中時間用法是最常見也最容易出錯的。

since 作為時間介係詞／連接詞的基本規則

• since + 過去時間點：表示「自從某時到現在」。
• 主句常搭配現在完成式（have/has + 過去分詞）。
• 若強調某個過去事件之後到另一個過去事件，主句可用過去完成式（had + 過去分詞）。

正確例句舉例：
I have worked here since 2010.
She has not eaten meat since last year.
They had lived in London since they were married.

since 作為因果連接詞

• 等同 because/as，翻譯為「因為」，多用於正式或書面英文。

正確例句舉例：
Since you are here, let’s start the meeting.

延伸學習：since 用法技巧

五大常見錯誤與避免方法

1. 錯誤時態搭配：現在簡單 vs 現在完成

許多學習者會誤用 since + 過去時間，但主句卻選錯現在簡單式，造成文法錯誤。 例如：「He is out of the office since you last phoned.」這是母語者無法接受的說法！

正確用法

應改為現在完成式（Have/Has + 過去分詞）：

• He has been out of the office since you last phoned.

重點對照表

現在簡單（錯誤）	現在完成（正確）
She works here since 2015.	She has worked here since 2015.
I know Tom since last year.	I have known Tom since last year.
He is employed by us since 2021.	He has been employed by us since 2021.

進一步閱讀：since 強化時態

2. since 與「for」混淆：時間段誤用

「since」只能搭配明確時間起點，「for」才可表一段期間，但經常被混用。

錯誤例句：

• I have lived here since five years.
• She has worked with us since three months.

正確用法：

• I have lived here for five years.
• She has worked with us for three months.

用法比一比

用法	since	for
說明	表起點	表階段、期間
搭配	明確時間點	一段時間（how long）
例句	since 2018	for 3 years

3. since 搭配「to」、「until now」的誤用

常見錯誤是中英直譯，把 since 與 to 或 until now 連用，形成語意重複的結構，英文文法並無此說法。

• He worked at the company since 2010 to 2018.
• No accident has happened since 2005 until now.

正確用法

• He worked at the company from 2010 to 2018.
• No accident has happened since 2005.

提醒：since 已內含「一直到現在」意義，勿與 until now 重復！

4. since 的時態延伸：主句/子句動詞時態選擇

since 從句與主句動詞時態會因語境不同而變化：

用途	主句時態	since 後子句時態	例句
過去至現在	現在完成	過去式/完成式	I have played soccer since I was five.
過去某一時到另一過去事件	過去完成	過去式/完成式	He had lived there since he was born.

5. since 用於現在/未來/泛指時間的誤用

有學習者以 since now、since next week 等方式表達現在或未來起點，實際上這是文法錯誤。

• The shop will be open since now.
• The service will start since next week.

正確應寫為：

• The shop will be open from now.
• The service will start from next week.

口訣：since＝從過去某時；from＝從現在或未來某時！

特別補充：since + V-ing 結構

since 可搭配動名詞（V-ing），強調主詞自某動作以後的持續狀態：

• Since moving to Taipei, I have made many friends.
• Since joining the team, she has improved a lot.

since 用法其他要點與學習總結

since 當「因為」之用法提醒

雖然 since 可用作「因為」，但為避免語意混淆（因有時間用法），口語與一般寫作建議優先用 because / as，更精確！

• Since he was ill, he stayed at home.（可能會被誤解為時間）
• Because he was ill, he stayed at home.（明確表因果）

易混詞整理

易混詞	正確用途	常見錯誤
since	明確起始時間點（如2005年、去年、出生以來）	since five years, since now
for	一段時間（如三週、十年）	for 2012, for Monday
ago	距今多久前	It’s a long time ago your last letter
from…to	明確時間範圍	since…to…, since…until…

since 用法快速檢查清單

• 是否用 since 搭配明確過去時間起點？
• 主句動詞為「現在完成式」嗎？
• 有誤用 since…to 或 since…until now 嗎？
• 有混用 for 和 since 嗎？
• 表原因時是否易與時間混淆？
• 描述現在/未來用 from，再用 since 嗎？

總結：熟練掌握 since 的明確「時間起點」及「動詞時態」運用，是提升專業英文表達與跨國溝通的關鍵！