Vincent Teo  +  519166 Mon, 26 May 08 04:10 PM Can  I say, (a) They become friends since they are /were young. (b)  They became friends since they were 10 years old. Vincent Teo Joined on Sat, Mar 31 2007 Veteran Member 5,660

	Marius Hancu  +  519172 Mon, 26 May 08 04:22 PM No.   They have been friends since they were young/10 years old. [long process lasting until today: use present perfect They became friends when they were 10 years old. [instantaneous event: use past tense and "when" Marius Hancu Joined on Wed, Apr 26 2006 Veteran Member 11,673 Tenses, Present Perfect, Past Tenses

	Avangi  +  519176 Mon, 26 May 08 04:27 PM If you wish to use "since," it would be, "They have been friends since they were young / ten years old." If you wish to use "become," it would be, "They became friends when they were young / ten years old." Best wishes,  - A. Avangi Joined on Mon, Nov 19 2007 Veteran Member 8,182 ". . . le plaisir delicieux et toujours nouveau d'une occupation inutile." - Henri de Regnier

	Grammar Geek  +  519210 Mon, 26 May 08 05:14 PM No. They HAVE BEEN... since. They BECAME ... when.   Grammar Geek Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006 Veteran Member 19,671 Barbara, who answers in American English. My housekeeping skills attest to the truth of the second law of thermodynamics: Left to themselves, things get more and more random!

	Avangi  +  519275 Mon, 26 May 08 07:13 PM Vincent Teo “Can  I say, (a) They become friends since they are /were young.  No. (b)  They became friends since they were 10 years old.  No. ” Avangi