Since when is he your friend? Correct it, please

Status
Not open for further replies.

twilit1988

Member
Joined
Oct 13, 2008
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Urdu
Home Country
Pakistan
Current Location
Pakistan
Hi,

1) Since when is he your friend? Correct it, please

2) Please put this printer back to its place. correct it please

Thanks in advance for correcting sentences!
 

bhaisahab

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 12, 2008
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
Ireland
Hi,

1) Since when is he your friend? Correct it, please

2) Please put this printer back to its place. correct it please

Thanks in advance for correcting sentences!
1) Since when is he your friend? This is OK, colloquial but OK.
2) Please put this printer back in its place.
 

2006

Key Member
Joined
Apr 9, 2007
Member Type
Other
Native Language
English
Home Country
Canada
Current Location
Canada
Hi,

1) Since when is he your friend? This sentence is often used to express doubt that "he" really is your friend.


son: I'm going to the mall with my friend Joe.

mother: Since when is he your friend!
2006
 

Rover_KE

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jun 20, 2010
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
England
Since when has he been your friend?
 

Raymott

VIP Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2008
Member Type
Academic
Native Language
English
Home Country
Australia
Current Location
Australia
Since when has he been your friend?
Yes, but I think the point is that that phrase is normally used ironically, (as above) rather than literally, as in "How long have you been friends with him?"
 

JMurray

Key Member
Joined
Nov 17, 2010
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
English
Home Country
New Zealand
Current Location
Australia
1) Since when is he your friend?

I hope the previous respondents don't mind if I try and clarify this for Twilit.
The phrase as you've written it is, as others have mentioned above, perfectly good colloquial English but it has a very particular meaning. It is really saying, "I'm not sure he is truly your friend". It is skeptical.
However, if you are just asking for basic information about how long he has been a friend then you would say something like, "How long has he been your friend?", or "When did he become your friend?".
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top