Because he's expecting to wake up vs Since

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Because he's expecting to wake up

Top 2,000 (common)

Since

Top 1,000 (very common)A2preposition
Most common: Since
 Because he's expecting to wake upSince
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //bɪˈkəz hiːz ɪkˈspɛktɪŋ tə weɪk ʌp//🇺🇸 //bɪˈkəz hiz ɪkˈspɛktɪŋ tə weɪk ʌp//🇬🇧 /["/sɪns/"]/🇺🇸 /["/sɪns/"]/
MeaningHe thinks he will wake up.From a specific time in the past until now.
ExampleShe's taking a nap because she's expecting to wake up refreshed.She's been off work since Tuesday.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level-A2
Part of speechpreposition
Collocationsexpecting to wake up, expecting great things, expecting positive results, expecting better weather, expecting new arrivalssince then, since childhood, since last year
Antonyms-until, before
Common mistakesForgetting to use 'because' correctly., Confusing 'expecting' with 'waiting for'., Using 'wake' instead of 'wakes' in present tense.Using 'since' with a future time reference., Confusing 'since' with 'for'., Incorrectly placing 'since' in the sentence.
Usage notesOften used in spoken and informal contexts to explain reasoning. Avoid in formal writing.Use 'since' to indicate the starting point of an action or situation that continues to the present. It is often used in the present perfect tense. Avoid using 'since' with future events.

See it in real clips

Because he's expecting to wake up
Since

Frequently asked questions: Because he's expecting to wake up vs Since

What's the difference between Because he's expecting to wake up and Since?

Because he's expecting to wake up: He thinks he will wake up. Since: From a specific time in the past until now.

Which is more common: Because he's expecting to wake up and Since?

Since is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Because he's expecting to wake up: She's taking a nap because she's expecting to wake up refreshed. Since: She's been off work since Tuesday.

Can I use Because he's expecting to wake up and Since interchangeably?

Not always. Because he's expecting to wake up and Since are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

Related comparisons