当 since 从句用一般过去时的时候,它对应的主句通常是用现在完成时或现在完成进行时的。如:
She has played the piano since she was a child. 她从下就弹钢琴。
I’ve loved you ever since I met you. 自从我见到你,我就一直爱你。
They’ve moved twice since they got married. 他们结婚后已搬了两次家。
They have been living in reduced circumstances since John lost his job. 约翰失业后,他们一直生活拮据。
但是,下面这个句子,摘自《牛津高阶》第6版的 since 词条:
She had been worrying ever since the letter arrived.
为什么主句用了过去完成进行时呢?
当 since 从句用一般过去时的时候,主句通常是用现在完成时或现在完成进行时,此时since从句所涉及的情况一直持续到现在;但,当其所表达的情况不是持续到现在,而是持续到另一个较近的过去时间点时,主句就可以采用过去完成时或过去完成进行时。如:
1. It had been fifteen years since she left. 她离开已经15年了。(1991年人教版高中英语第一册p137)
2. She had shared responsibility for her brother since girlhood. 她还是个小姑娘的时候就分担起照顾弟弟的责任。(《柯林斯高阶英汉双解学习词典》)
因此《牛津高阶》第6版的 since 词条的例句是正确的:
She had been worrying ever since the letter arrived.