long since
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adverb 1. At a time in the distant past; long ago: Indicates that an action was completed or a state began far in the past and remains true. It emphasizes the significant passage of time since the event occurred.
Usage
- The phrase "long since" is used to emphasize that something happened, ended, or was completed a very long time ago. It is often used with the present perfect or past perfect tenses.
- It typically appears in the middle or at the end of a clause.
Examples
- With Present Perfect: (He retired many years ago and is still retired now.)
- With Present Perfect (passive): (They were forgotten many years ago and remain forgotten.)
- With Past Perfect: (Her departure was far in the past relative to my arrival.)
- At end of clause:
Advanced Usage
- "To be long since" + adjective/past participle: A common structure describing a state that was established long ago.
- The matter is long since settled. (The decision was made long ago and is final.)
- The flowers were long since dead. (They died a long time ago.)
Variants and Related Words
- Long ago (adverbial phrase): A more common synonym with a very similar meaning.
- He left the company long ago.
- Lang syne (adverb, archaic/Scottish): The Scots language origin of the phrase "long since," famously used in the song "Auld Lang Syne," meaning "times long past."
Synonyms
- Long ago
- Ages ago
- Far back
- Long ago and far away
Notes
- "Long since" is a fixed adverbial phrase. It is more formal and literary than the simpler "long ago."
- It is not used to refer to the distant future (e.g., "long since" cannot mean "long into the future").
Adverb
- of the distant or comparatively distant past
- We met once long ago
- they long ago forsook their nomadic life
- left for work long ago
- he has long since given up mountain climbing
- This name has long since been forgotten
- lang syne is Scottish