自从 (ever since)
IntroducedA report needs a starting event
- A student moved here in March. In an April conversation, they say ever since自从come来here这儿，I我very很happy开心。 — Since coming here, I have been happy.
- The arrival is earlier than the report. The sentence connects a later state to that starting event; it does not describe a route from a place.
Moving here changed how happy someone feels. What does 自从来这儿，我很开心。 communicate?
The arrival is the starting point for the subsequent state. 自从 introduces an earlier starting event. 从 is broader and also works with places or future starting times.
Introduce the earlier starting point
- Use ever since自从 + earlier time / event，later situation. ever since自从come来here这儿 supplies the starting event; I我very很happy开心 gives the later state.
- ever since自从March三月to move (i.e. relocate…搬come来，I我去过library图书馆third三次。 — Since moving here in March, I have visited the library three times. Repeated events also fit.
ever since自从come来here这儿，I我very很happy开心。
Use this lesson’s target form 自从 in the demonstrated sentence: Ever since I came here, I've been happy: ____ 来这儿，我很开心。
自从 + Past Event = ever since: 自从来这儿,我很开心.
Keep the report’s endpoint
- The April report counts three visits between the March move and that conversation. It does not mean three visits every day.
- A copy of that April report read in June is still an April report. Do not silently add two more months or claim three is the June total.
In the March-arrival example, what does 自从 introduce?
It marks the earlier arrival, not a deadline. Later situations can be states or repeated events.
An April report says 自从三月搬来，我去过图书馆三次。 What does three count?
It counts visits since the March move up to that April report, not a daily rate.
Compare time, place and a future plan
- from / starting at从tomorrow明天to start开始，I我every day每天to walk走路to go to school上学。 starts a future plan. from / starting at从school学校to walk走to / arrive到rail station车站。 starts a route at the school. Use plain from / starting at从 in these examples.
- ever since自从 highlights an earlier time or event leading into a later situation. It cannot replace from / starting at从 in every route or future-start expression.
In the April conversation, 自从来这儿 introduces the earlier arrival as the starting event.
The March arrival is earlier than this April report; the statement is bounded to that example.
An April report of three visits since March must be updated to June simply because someone reads it in June.
The report’s reference endpoint remains April; the reading date does not supply later visits.
Choose the starting word for this route: ____ 学校走到车站。
Plain 从 introduces a place starting point in this route.
A sequence is not proof of cause
- ever since自从to exchange换(completed / change)了seat座位，I我to see看blackboard黑板clear清楚many多(completed / change)了。 reports clearer vision after changing seats. It connects the observations in time.
- To claim the seat was the only cause, we would need more evidence. ever since自从 alone does not rule out a new pair of glasses or another change.
自从换了座位，我看黑板清楚多了 proves the new seat was the only cause of clearer vision.
It connects a later observation to an earlier event in time; an exclusive cause needs more evidence.
Read the start, report and later situation
- Find the earlier starting point, then the situation or events reported after it. Repeated visits need their own count and endpoint.
- Keep ever since自从 distinct from a place route and a future plan. A time connection does not automatically prove an exclusive cause.
Read the full reference: HSK 5 grammar — Prepositions.
Recall the situation: A report needs a starting event. Decide what the speaker wanted to communicate. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.