ChineseGrammarWiki/Programmes/B1.old/Grammar-wiki-B1-51.txt

{{Grammar Box}} 

There are a few ways to express "ever since" in Chinese. In English, we would say something like "ever since I came to Shanghai, my Chinese has improved a lot." In this article, we will first take a look at using 以来 (yǐlái) to mean "ever since." We will also take a quick look at using "ever since" with 来 (lái), which is similar but used in a somewhat different way.

== Structure with 以来 ==

=== Basic form ===

To express "ever since," all one needs to do is put "以来" (yǐlái) after a specific event or time. It expresses what has happened since the stated event until the time that the speaker talks (in other words, referring to a certain time period). 

This grammar pattern is usually used to start a statement.

<div class="jiegou">

Time or Event + 以来

</div>

==== Examples ====

<div class="liju">

*上大学<em>以来</em> ，我 一直 没逃过课。<span class="pinyin">Shàng dàxué <em>yǐlái</em>, wǒ yīzhí méi táo guò kè.</span><span class="trans">Since I was in college, I haven't skipped a class.</span>
*到 上海 <em>以来</em> ，他 的 汉语 水平 提高 了。<span class="pinyin">Dào Shànghǎi <em>yǐlái</em>, tā de Hànyǔ shuǐpíng tígāo le.</span><span class="trans">Ever since he came to Shanghai, his Chinese has been improving.</span>
*住院 <em>以来</em> ，常常有朋友来医院看望她 。<span class="pinyin">Zhùyuàn <em>yǐlái</em>, chángcháng yǒu péngyou lái yīyuàn kànwàng tā.</span><span class="trans">Ever since she was in hospital, her friends have constantly come and visited her.</span>


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=== Form with 自, 从 or 自从 ===

When you need to use 以来 in a more formal or written context, you can add 自, 从 or 自从 (or other similar words) before the time or event.

<div class="jiegou">

自 / 从 / 自从 + Time or Event + 以来

</div>

==== Examples ====

<div class="liju">

* <em>自从</em> 我 拿到 驾照 <em>以来</em> 已经 有 五 年 了。<span class="pinyin"><em>Zìcóng</em> wǒ ná dào jiàzhào <em>yǐlái</em> yǐjīng yǒu wǔ nián le.</span><span class="trans">I've had my license for five years.</span>
* <em>自从</em> 去年 夏天<em>以来</em>，他 一直 没有 回过家 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Zìcóng</em> qùnián xiàtiān <em>yǐlái</em>, tā yīzhí méiyǒu huíguò jiā.</span><span class="trans">He hasn't  returned home since last summer.</span>
* <em>自从</em>退学<em>以来</em>，他一直在帮父母做农活。<span class="pinyin"><em>Zìcóng</em> tuìxué <em>yǐlái</em>, tā yīzhí zài bāng fùmǔ zuò nónghuó.</span><span class="trans">Since he left school,he's been helping her parents do farm work.</span>
* <em>自从</em> 1979 年 改革开放 <em>以来</em>，中国人 的 生活水平 得到 了 提高。<span class="pinyin"><em>Zìcóng</em> yījiǔqījiǔ nián gǎigé kāifàng <em>yǐlái</em>, Zhōngguó rén de shēnghuó shuǐpíng dédào le tígāo.</span><span class="trans">Ever since the 1979 reform, the Chinese people's level of living has gone up.</span>

</div>

== Structure with 来 ==

Using 来 to mean "ever since" is basically the same as "以来," however, there is one key difference: you can only use 来 after a time interval. In other words, it needs to be used with a certain number of years, months, days, hours etc. In English this would be like saying "ever since three days ago, I've had a constant headache." It doesn't have to be a specific number either, it could be "a few" (几).

This form cannot be used with 自, 从 or 自从 (or other similar words).

<div class="jiegou">

Time Interval + 来

</div>

==== Examples ====

<div class="liju">

* 三 个 月<em>来</em>，我们 去 了 很  多地方 旅游。<span class="pinyin">Sān gè yuè <em>lái</em>, wǒmen qù le hěn duō dìfang lǚyóu.</span><span class="trans">Since three months ago, we've traveled to a lot of places.</span>
* 五 年 <em>来</em>，物价 一直 上涨。<span class="pinyin">Wǔ nián <em>lái</em>, wùjià yīzhí shàngzhǎng.</span><span class="trans">Ever since five years ago, prices have been going up.</span>
* 我 的 同学 几 天 <em>来</em> 一直 没有 上课。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ de tóngxué jǐ tiān <em>lái</em> yīzhí méiyǒu shàngkè.</span><span class="trans">My classmate hasn't come to class for a few days now.</span>

</div>

==See also==
*[[Before and after with "zhiqian" and "zhihou"]]
*[["Ever since" with "zicong"]]

== Sources and  further reading ==

=== Books ===

* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4)]] (p. 203) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561913192/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561913192 →buy]
* [[Boya Chinese Elementary Starter 2 (博雅汉语初经起步篇)]] (p. 25) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7301078617/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=7301078617 →buy]
* [[现代汉语八百词]] （p. 616) [http://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B001198GSW&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B001198GSW →buy]
*[[卓越汉语－公司实战篇]] (p. 36) [http://www.amazon.cn/%E5%8D%93%E8%B6%8A%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD-%E5%85%AC%E5%8F%B8%E5%AE%9E%E6%88%98%E7%AF%87-%E8%83%A1%E7%81%B5%E5%9D%87/dp/B003QZWQ6M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347863170&sr=8-1 →buy]

[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
[[Category:Time]]
{{Similar|"(Ever) Since" with "(zi)cong"}}
{{Similar|Before and After with "zhiqian" and "zhihou"}}
{{Similar|Sequencing past events with "houlai"}}
{{Basic Grammar|以来|B1|⋯⋯以来|八月份 <em>以来</em>。|grammar point|ASGNEMXP}}
{{Rel char|来}}
{{Used for|Sequencing events in time}}
{{Used for|Referring to the past}}
{{Translation|since}}
{{POS|Nouns}}