Question

All the sentences below use the preposition 'since'.
Select the sentence that makes correct use of it:

• A. They have been waiting here since four hours
• B. I have lived in this house since most of my life.
• C. The family has been abroad since 1998.
• D. She worked in the college since 1996 to 2001

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

1. To determine the correct usage of the preposition "since," we need to understand its proper application. "Since" is used to refer to the starting point of a specific time period, continuing up to the present.
2. Let's evaluate each option:
   • Option 1: "They have been waiting here since four hours."
     • The sentence incorrectly uses "since" because "since" should be followed by a specific point in time, not a period. The correct form would use "for" to indicate duration (e.g., "They have been waiting here for four hours").
   • Option 2: "I have lived in this house since most of my life."
     • This sentence is incorrect because "most of my life" is not a specific point in time, which is necessary after "since." It should be something like "since 1990" or "since childhood."
   • Option 3: "The family has been abroad since 1998."
     • This is the correct usage of "since," as it specifies a starting point in time (1998), implying the family has been abroad from that year up to now.
   • Option 4: "She worked in the college since 1996 to 2001."
     • This sentence is incorrect because "since" should be used with a time that continues into the present. Here, it would be correct to use "from...to" instead of "since...to" (e.g., "from 1996 to 2001").
3. Therefore, the sentence that correctly uses "since" is: "The family has been abroad since 1998."

In summary, when using "since," ensure it is followed by a precise starting point in time that indicates an ongoing situation or action. This makes Option 3 the correct choice.