since vs until · 时间介词辨析

New Concept English Book 2 · Lessons 2–5 知识补充

🎯 核心区别：起点 vs 终点

起点

since = 从…开始（动作持续）

动作从过去某点开始，一直持续到（靠近）现在

I have studied English since 2020.

从2020年开始学→现在还学

He has been here since Monday.

从周一开始就在→现在还在

终点

until = 直到…为止（动作结束）

动作持续到某点，然后停止

I stayed in bed until lunchtime.

一直躺到午饭→然后起床

Wait here until I come back.

等到回来→然后不用等了

📊 时间轴图示

since

起点（持续）
现在（还在持续）

until

持续
终点（动作停止）

🔑 核心区别句

同一句话，不同介词 → 完全不同的意思：

I waited since 8 o'clock. → 我从8点开始等（现在还在等）
I waited until 8 o'clock. → 我一直等到8点（然后不等了）

📋 搭配速查

sinceuntil
+ 时间点✅ since 2020✅ until 8pm
+ 从句✅ since I was a child✅ until you come back
+ 时间段❌（用 for）✅ until last year
主句时态现在完成时/过去完成时不限
动作状态持续到现在（未结束）持续到终点（已结束）
💡 since vs for 也容易混淆：
since + 时间点：since Monday / 2020 / I was 10
for + 时间段：for three days / six months / a long time

📖 课文中出现的位置

课文例句
Lesson 2I sometimes stay in bed until lunchtime.
Lesson 4He has been there for six months.（since 的同族用法 for）

🌟 记忆口诀

Since 起点用到今，Until 终点停一停

since = 动作滚雪球越滚越大，until = 闹钟响了该停了

✏️ 常考对比

sinceuntil
He has been asleep since 9pm.He slept until 9am.
从9点睡到现在（还睡着）睡到9点（然后醒了）
Since you arrived, I have been happy.I was sad until you arrived.
从你来了我就一直开心（持续开心）我一直难过直到你来（然后开心了）

学习记录：Lesson 5 课后主动提问 · 2026-06-15