 #2 (permalink) Fri Sep 26, 2008 7:44 am the difference between "from then on" and "since" |
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Hi Meifangtien
The phrase "from then on" could basically be used with any tense. The word "then" refers to a specific point in time and that point in time could be either in the past or in the future -- it depends on the context. The word "on" simply refers to all of the time that follows "then".
| Quote: |
| He decided to study hard from then on. |
Without any additional context, I would interpret that sentence to mean that "study hard" began at the same time in the past as his decision. However, additional context could possibly change my interpretation.
| Quote: |
| He has decided to study hard since then. |
Without any additional context, it is not possible to guess what "then" means or when the decision was. I would only assume that both "then" and the beginning of "study hard" were in the past. The decision to study hard could have happened at any time between "then" and now.
If you said "He has decided to study hard from then on", for example, I could possibly interpret that to mean that his decision was made in the recent past, and the word "then" could be the specific future point in time at which he will begin studying hard.
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