Anonymous  +  448177 Fri, 30 Nov 07 12:11 PM Hello there, Is there a negative question with 'How long + Present Perfect'? Eg. Is it okay to say: How long haven't you visited your friend? Or it's better to say: How long has it been since you visted your friend? Or both ways are as good? Thank you. Anonymous Negatives, Present Perfect

	Doll  +  448188 Fri, 30 Nov 07 12:49 PM To me,  you can say both of them. Doll Joined on Sat, Mar 10 2007 Senior Member 2,811

	Philip  +  448254 Fri, 30 Nov 07 04:04 PM  Anonymous wrote: Hello there, Is there a negative question with 'How long + Present Perfect'? Eg. Is it okay to say: How long haven't you visited your friend? Or it's better to say: How long has it been since you visted your friend? Or both ways are as good? Thank you. The second example is fine. I'd like to begin the first one with "for".  The answer would be, "I haven't visited him for three months". Philip Joined on Thu, Jun 23 2005 Veteran Member 8,736 At reise er at leve! - H. C. Andersen Negatives, Present Perfect

	CalifJim  +  449442 Tue, 04 Dec 07 06:30 AM Is there a negative question with 'How long + Present Perfect'? No.  Not really.  You have to rephrase it as you have done in your second example. Your first example is only of theoretical interest.  It's possible to construct sentences using that pattern, but they are so awkward that they are really not usable if you wish to be understood clearly. CJ CalifJim Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004 California Veteran Member 22,393 "There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche Negatives