Question

It has been 5 years since I was away from the army, but now I still remember the colorful

It has been 5 years since I was away from the army, but now I still remember the colorful life there. since后面不是加短暂性动词吗？为什么在此句中加的是表示状态的be away

Answer 1

since后接延续性与短暂性动词都可以的。
一、若since引导的状语从句的谓语动词是终止性的过去时，则从句表示的时间是“从动作开始的那一时刻起”。如：
He has studied very hard since he came to our school.自从他来到我们学校，他学习就非常努力。
We have been missing them since they left here自从他们离开这里，我们就一直很想念他们。
这是最常见的一种用法，此处不再多述。
二、若since引导的状语从句的谓语动词是持续性动词或表示状态的动词的过去时时，则从句表示的时间是“从那持续动作或状态结束时算起”。如：
I haven’t heard any noise since I slept. Sleep 为持续性动词，sleep的动作结束时，即“醒来”时，这句应译为“我醒后还未听到任何声音”。

试比较：
It is 2 years since he lived in our city.他不住在我们城市有2年了。
It is 2 years since he moved to our city.自从他住在我们城市已经有2年了。

所以It has been 5 years since I was away from the army,“5年前我就退役了”

Answer 2

这里表示的是时间， 完成时态中 since+时间点 for+时间段，此句中since I was away from the army 自从我离开部队……