since forever

ostap77 · Sep 19, 2010

I was just watching an episode of "Haven" and a guy in it said " It's been in the Carpentner family since forever". Why didn't he say just forever without using "since"?

Koronas · Sep 19, 2010

It's a colloquial usage. Although "since" is redundant, the word "since" is used whenever a specific time is mentioned.

"It has been here since last week."

Consequently, it seems somewhat natural to say "since forever". In addition, because it is obviously incorrect, it often has a joking quality because it is a lie. Nothing has been anywhere "forever" (for an infinite time). So it emphasises an exaggeration.

ostap77 · Sep 19, 2010

Koronas said:
It's a colloquial usage. Although "since" is redundant, the word "since" is used whenever a specific time is mentioned.

"It has been here since last week."

Consequently, it seems somewhat natural to say "since forever". In addition, because it is obviously incorrect, it often has a joking quality because it is a lie. Nothing has been anywhere "forever" (for an infinite time). So it emphasises an exaggeration.

What if someone said " since a long time", it would be incorrect either?

Koronas · Sep 19, 2010

ostap77 said:
What if someone said " since a long time", it would be incorrect {also}?

We do not use "since" in English like that. It has to be "for a long time" when you refer to duration.

The word "since" always refers to a specific point in the past.

"Since five o'clock."
"Since last month."

ostap77 · Sep 19, 2010

Koronas said:
We do not use "since" in English like that. It has to be "for a long time" when you refer to duration.

The word "since" always refers to a specific point in the past.

"Since five o'clock."
"Since last month."

So it's only for the " since forever thing"?

Koronas · Sep 19, 2010

Correct. Only that specific usage. In that case, "forever" is assumed to be a specific point in time. (The beginning of the universe - hence the exaggeration!)

ostap77 · Sep 19, 2010

Koronas said:
Correct. Only that specific usage. In that case, "forever" is assumed to be a specific point in time. (The beginning of the universe - hence the exaggeration!)

:up:

since forever

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