"Why steal when/since you're so rich?"

[drobskyk]

Hi,

I'd like to know if I can

1. replace "when" with "since" in the following sentence,

"Why steal when you're so rich?"

2. change the above sentence into

"Since you're so rich, why do you steal?"

Thank you.

 

[jutfrank]

Essentially, yes. I think you've understood the logic well.

I would restate the sentence like this:

Why steal when you're so rich?
=
Given the fact that you're so rich, why do you steal?

The logic is that there is a fact that you are so rich, and rich people don't need to steal, so therefore the fact that you do steal needs an alternative explanation in order to make sense.

 

[drobskyk]

Essentially, yes. I think you've understood the logic well.

I would restate the sentence like this:

Why steal when you're so rich?
=
Given the fact that you're so rich, why do you steal?

The logic is that there is a fact that you are so rich, and rich people don't need to steal, so therefore the fact that you do steal needs an alternative explanation in order to make sense.

Thanks for your explanation. I have seen lots of examples of the second, but rarely the first, where "since" is used in the second part of a question.

 

[Tdol]

And being rich does not stop many from stealing (Bernie Madoff).