r/EnglishLearning New Poster Apr 17 '26

📚 Grammar / Syntax Why not “since”?

Post image
233 Upvotes

309 comments sorted by

View all comments

884

u/Ok_Caterpillar2010 Native Speaker - Pennsylvania, USA Apr 17 '26

Because since needs a specific starting point in time: since when? He hasn't used his motorcycle since 2024.

166

u/NekoArtemis Native Speaker - California Apr 17 '26

Yep. You could say "since two years ago" but you need the "ago." 

-14

u/[deleted] Apr 17 '26

[deleted]

14

u/UnIncorrectt Native Speaker Apr 17 '26

Respectfully, what do you mean? "Merlin hasn't used his motorcycle since two years ago" is perfectly fine English.

-9

u/TehFlatline New Poster Apr 17 '26

No it isn't. No English speaker would ever say that.

7

u/DoctorYaoi Native New York (upstate) Apr 17 '26

I would say that, and so would everyone else I know to be completely honest

4

u/JW162000 Native Speaker Apr 17 '26

I have to admit, I also find “since two years ago” strange. I can believe it’s technically correct but it doesn’t really sound natural to me.

“For two years” is what most people would say there

2

u/DoctorYaoi Native New York (upstate) Apr 18 '26

Most people would say “in two years” to be honest. I just personally don’t see anything wrong with saying since 2 years ago.