【问】 He has just bought a new house in the city，but ever since he moved in，he has had troublewith motorists. (New Concept English，Book 2，L. 28)

世界图书出版公司出版的《辅导材料》说：“ever since比单独用since语气强。”不知这个“语气强”究竟是指什么。

【答】 ever是个强化语，放在since之前是用来表达说话人强调主句动作或状态持续时间很长的口气的。如果要表达主句的动作或状态的持续时间之短，就不能使用ever。请比较：

1. You have been reading to me ever since James went out. (Shaw)

自从詹姆斯走后你就一直在给我朗读。

2. It is just a week since we arrived. (ALD)

我们来了才一个星期。

请再分析一些实例：

1. I've been wanting to get a better understanding of your family affairs ever since I left.(Dreiser)

自从我离开后我就一直想更好地了解你们家里的事儿。

2. Assuming that his family had been killed during an air-raid，Hans settled down in a vil-lage fifty miles away where he had remained ever since. (New Concept English，Book 3，L.36)

汉斯猜想他的家人在一次空袭中遭难，于是他就在五十英里外的一个村庄定居了下

来，从那以后他一直住在那里。

3. The big clock which used to strike the hours day and night was damaged during the warand has been silent ever since. (New Concept English，Book 3，L.2)

这只一向日夜不停打点报时的大钟在战争中损坏了，从此就一直不响了。