How to use the words "since" and "from"

[Seeker7]

Hello, everybody!

Could you please tell me whether "since" can be used together with past simple, especially when describing historical events?

For example, is it possible to say:

- "The telegraph office was in operation since June 1879"?

or

- "John Smith was appointed as a Chief Telegraph Office since Nov 1879"?

Thanks!

[RonBee]

Originally Posted by Seeker7

- "The telegraph office was in operation since June 1879"?

Yes, that's plausible.

[RonBee]

Originally Posted by Seeker7

- "John Smith was appointed as a Chief Telegraph Office since Nov 1879"?

No. Perhaps:

John Smith was appointed Chief Telegraph Officer in Nov. 1879.


or

John Smith has been Chief Telegraph Officer since Nov. 1879.

[donlouri]

hello
please i want to know in which tenses we use since
thank you very much

[Seeker7]

Thank you very much RonBee!

I didn't know that present perfect tense can be used to describe past state of the subject as in your second example:

"John Smith has been Chief Telegraph Officer since Nov. 1879"

Our English teacher tells us that present perfect cannot be used to express past action or state.

Could you give me a clue?

[RonBee]

Well, the present perfect is about the past and it is about the present. It says that such and such a thing has been going on in the past and it is still going on now. (For a definition of the present perfect, consult this site's grammar glossary.)

[bhaisahab]

Originally Posted by Seeker7

Thank you very much RonBee!

I didn't know that present perfect tense can be used to describe past state of the subject as in your second example:

"John Smith has been Chief Telegraph Officer since Nov. 1879"

Our English teacher tells us that present perfect cannot be used to express past action or state.

Could you give me a clue?

If you use the present perfect here it implies that John Smith is still Chief Telegraph Officer. This is unlikely as it would make him at least 150 years old.

[Seeker7]

Originally Posted by RonBee

Well, the present perfect is about the past and it is about the present. It says that such and such a thing has been going on in the past and it is still going on now. (For a definition of the present perfect, consult this site's grammar glossary.)

Yes, RonBee, this is exactly what my English teacher says about the use of present perfect. That's why I was puzzled over your second example :)

[Seeker7]

Originally Posted by bhaisahab

If you use the present perfect here it implies that John Smith is still Chief Telegraph Officer. This is unlikely as it would make him at least 150 years old.

Absolutely!

[bhaisahab]

- "The telegraph office was in operation since June 1879"

In BrE this is not correct. If the telegraph office is still in operation, you could use the present perfect here. If not you should use 'from' not 'since'.