Since vs From
The confusion people experience in understanding when to use since and from is due to the fact that the difference between since and from is a little difficult to grasp. As words since and from are both prepositions. However, unlike from, since is also used as a conjunction, as well as an adverb. Then, the origin of since is in Late Middle English while from comes from the Old English word fram. Other than all these information, there is another interesting fact to mention about the word from. It is used in many phrases such as from day to day, as from and from time to time.
What does From mean?
The word from is a preposition that is used in the Ablative case to indicate distance or place as in the sentences given below.
I moved from Canberra to Sydney in 1988.
She came from London today morning.
In the first sentence, the use of the word from suggests distance or place whereas in the second sentence, the use of the word from suggests place. It is interesting to note that the preposition from is often followed by another preposition to. Unlike the word since, a sentence very rarely begins with the word from. The word from sometimes is used in the sense of difference as in the sentence given below.
The mango is different from the banana.
What does Since mean?
The word since, on the other hand, indicates the sense of beginning as in the sentences given below.
He has been coughing since morning.
He has been playing tennis since the age of 11.
In both the sentences, the usage of the word since suggests the meaning of beginning. In the second sentence, the usage of since conveys the meaning ‘he has been playing tennis beginning from the age of 11’. Sometimes, the word since is used in the sense of ‘due to’ or as suggesting ‘a reason’ as in the sentences given below.
I came late to the office today since I missed the train.
He could not read the letter since he was blind.
In both of the above given sentences, you can see that since has been used as a way of showing reason. Sometimes, the word since is used in the sense of ‘right from’ as in the sentence given below.
Since boyhood, he has been playing chess with skill.
The use of the word since suggested the sense of ‘right from’. You can note that the sentence begins with since sometimes.
What is the difference between Since and From?
• The word from is a preposition that is used in the Ablative case to indicate distance or place.
• It is interesting to note that the preposition from is often followed by another preposition to.
• The word since, on the other hand, indicates the sense of beginning.
• Sometimes, the word since is used in the sense of ‘due to’ or as suggesting ‘a reason.’
• Sometimes, the word since is used in the sense of ‘right from.’
• Sometimes, sentences begin with the word since. However, sentences rarely begin from the word from. This is one of the main differences between the two words, since and from.