for no ads

"Since when" usage here right or wrong ?

This question has been answered · 8 replies
:
Friends, can you check this sentence and tell me I'm using "since when" rightly here or not. I'm confuse regarding the usage of s with become. I'm using these sentence in one discussion forum.

Sentence: Since when he becomes a leader ? and Since when Mugabe becomes a good president ?

Thanks
Full Member432
Approved answer (verified by )
:
Since when did he become a leader?
Since when is he a leader?
Since when did Mugabe become a good president?
Since when is Mugabe a good president?
Contributing Member1,732
Proficient Speaker: Users in this role are known to maintain an excellent grasp of the English language. You can only be promoted to this role by the Englishforums team.Trusted Users: Trusted users are allowed to use additional capabilities of the site such as private messaging to all users and various other advanced features. You cannot join this role unless you are promoted by an administrator.
ALL REPLIES
:
Friends, can you check this sentence and tell me I'm using "since when" rightly here or not. I'm confuse regarding the usage of s with become. I'm using these sentence in one discussion forum.

Sentence: Since when he becomes a leader ? and Since when Mugabe becomes a good president ?

Thanks
:
"Since when" is asking about a past time, so you need to use "became," or "did become," or some other past tense.

If you switch it to a declarative sentence, you have, "He has been a leader since X."

"Mugabe has been a good president since Y."

I guess to be correct, you'd need, "Since when is he a leader?"

"Since when is Mugabe a good president?"

It's casual, right? People say, "Since when did you become boss?"

It's technically incorrect to use "since" with "become" or "became."

"When did he become a leader?"

"When did Mugabe become a good president?"

These are more correct, but lack the touch of sarcasm.
Veteran Member20,154
Moderator: A super-user who takes care of the forums. You have the ability to message a moderator privately should you wish. These users have a range of elevated privileges including the deletion, editing and movement of posts when needed.Proficient Speaker: Users in this role are known to maintain an excellent grasp of the English language. You can only be promoted to this role by the Englishforums team.
Anonymous:
"Since when" is very strange. It consists of a preposition (since) and an adverb (when) . As you know, you need a noun after a preposition. So native speakers make "when" into a noun. "Since when" REALLY should be : Since which time. (1)Here's an example: Why do you want me to leave the library now. It's only 3 p.m. (I'm sorry, but we now close at 3 p.m. ) Since when did you start closing so early? (Since last week) (2) Here's another example. Joe started working at that company in 2005, since when he has gone from a cashier to the manager. = Since 2005, he has gone ....
:
AnonymousFriends, can you check this sentence and tell me I'm using since when rightly or not. I'm confuse regarding the usage of s with become. I'm using these sentence in one discussion forum.

Since when he becomes a leader ? Since when Mugabe becomes a good president ?

Thanks

If you say "Since when has he been a leader?" "Since when has Mugabe been a good president?" you are expressing doubt that he IS a leader or that he IS a good president.

"I"m on a diet.
"Since when? I saw you have ice cream with your lunch!"

If you simply want to know how long, then you ask "How long has X been Y?" or "When did X become Y?"
Veteran Member26,552
Proficient Speaker: Users in this role are known to maintain an excellent grasp of the English language. You can only be promoted to this role by the Englishforums team.Retired Moderator: A moderator who has retired.Trusted Users: Trusted users are allowed to use additional capabilities of the site such as private messaging to all users and various other advanced features. You cannot join this role unless you are promoted by an administrator.
:
I have joined the two threads, which were responded to by different people.

PLEASE do not post the same question twice.
Proficient Speaker: Users in this role are known to maintain an excellent grasp of the English language. You can only be promoted to this role by the Englishforums team.Retired Moderator: A moderator who has retired.Trusted Users: Trusted users are allowed to use additional capabilities of the site such as private messaging to all users and various other advanced features. You cannot join this role unless you are promoted by an administrator.
Anonymous:
My question is also about the usage of the same "since when" but in a different context. can we use this for future especially when we have to take permission for any of our future action; such as, since when shall I come to class etc?

reply soon please.

Thanks
:
No, don't use "since when" for a future situation.
Just use "when."
Proficient Speaker: Users in this role are known to maintain an excellent grasp of the English language. You can only be promoted to this role by the Englishforums team.Retired Moderator: A moderator who has retired.Trusted Users: Trusted users are allowed to use additional capabilities of the site such as private messaging to all users and various other advanced features. You cannot join this role unless you are promoted by an administrator.
Interesting stuff
Live chat
Registered users can join here

Related forum topics:

Since?SATI; RIGHT OR WRONG?Ending A Sentence With A Preposition, Right or...Is this wrong?Are they right?Usage of `since' and `for'?What's wrong with these sentences?that/when/since?Since when did u?A question about tense usage in "since clause"?Usage of "long since/long ago"?Usage of if-clause?In the context, "since I was here" or "since I...Common usages?

Places to start

 

Community Sites

Browse Englishforums


Help