Since: Sedan
You can use sedan to talk about an action or state that started in the past and is still ongoing today, just like the English word "since."
When sedan acts as a conjunction connecting two clauses, it creates a specific time relationship. Because the state is ongoing, the main clause requires the present perfect tense (har + supine verb). The sedan clause describes the starting point in the past, so it typically uses the simple past tense.
| The monk has lived in the monastery since he was a child. | Munken har bott i klostret sedan han var ett barn. |
| The nun has felt peace since she started meditating. | Nunnan har känt frid sedan hon började meditera. |
Like most subordinate clauses, a sedan clause can be moved to the beginning of the sentence to shift emphasis. Remember the V2 (verb-second) rule: if the entire sentence starts with the sedan clause, the main clause must immediately follow with its conjugated verb.
| Since he read the holy scripture, he has actually kept the faith. | Sedan han läste den heliga skriften har han faktiskt behållit tron. |
Sedan as a Preposition
Sedan doesn't always need to introduce a full clause with a subject and verb. It also works as a preposition, followed directly by a specific point in time or an event. The ongoing nature of the action means the main clause continues to use the present perfect tense.
| Because the prayer brings peace, I have meditated since this morning. | På grund av att bönen ger frid har jag mediterat sedan i morse. |
| The monastery has probably been a holy place since the fire. | Klostret har antagligen varit en helig plats sedan branden. |