Since when did you start working in this company?

[farhankhan2007]

Hello all,

Could someone please explain me the difference between these sentence?
1) Since when did you start working in this company?
2) Since when have you started working in this company?
3) Since when have you started to work for this company?

Do all these mean the same?
Someone told me the first one is used in Ame and the latter onces are used in Bre.

Many thanks.

 

[GoesStation]

Hello all,

Could someone please explain me the difference between these sentence?
1) When [STRIKE]Since when[/STRIKE] did you start working in this company?:tick:
2) Since when have you started working in this company?:cross:
3) Since when have you started to work for this company?:cross:

Do all these mean the same?
Someone told me the first one is used in Ame and the latter onces are used in Bre.

They are all incorrect in British and American English. Number 1 can be corrected as I've shown above.

 

[farhankhan2007]

So any difference between these two sentences?

1) Since when have you started lying?
2) Since when did you start lying?

Thanks

 

[GoesStation]

There's a nuanced way both sentences could be used in spoken American English*, but neither is typical in formal English. Write When did you start lying? - but don't believe the answer you receive.

*Emphasize "you" in both sentences to say "you used to be completely honest. How long ago did you become dishonest?"

 

[farhankhan2007]

So can "since" be used in formal English, does it have some kind of a sarcasm in it? :roll:
I especially mean "since when".

 

[GoesStation]

"Since" is used frequently in formal English. It's the expression since when that's informal. It expresses surprise.

 

[farhankhan2007]

There's a nuanced way both sentences could be used in spoken American English*, but neither is typical in formal English. Write When did you start lying? - but don't believe the answer you receive.

*Emphasize "you" in both sentences to say "you used to be completely honest. How long ago did you become dishonest?"

Is it possible to use present perfect with "how long ago"?
Like "How long ago have you started doing this work"? Or "How long ago has this work started"?
I am thinking from present perfect angle that the work started at some point in the past and continues upto now.

 

[GoesStation]

Is it possible to use present perfect with "how long ago"?
Like "How long ago have you started doing this work"? Or "How long ago has this work started"?

No. You can use the simple past ("How long ago did you start this work?") or the simple past passive ("How long ago was this work started?").

 

[jutfrank]

Yes, you can use Since when in the way you're asking about. Use it with present perfect. It seems to work especially well with state verbs.

Since when have you been an expert on the subject?

It doesn't work in your original example because of the verb started. You could say Since when have you worked at this company?, (emphasising you to achieve the sense of sarcasm.)

 

[konungursvia]

The other point you are missing is that you don't use the interrogative "since when" along with an inchoative verb, as that particle already implies the moment of change, as does the inchoative. English can be very loose about some things, but it is strict about verb aspects. Inchoative means "starting something."

 

[farhankhan2007]

So are the below usages ok?

Since when did you start lying?
Since when have you become a liar?

Thanks

 

[GoesStation]

So are the below usages ok?

Since when did you start lying?
Since when have you become a liar?

They are proper usage but it's very unlikely anyone would say them. We use "since when" to introduce a sarcastic remark; for example, suppose someone who you know is ignorant on the subject of internet threats interjects an opinion about them into a conversation. You could say "Since when have you been an expert on ransomware?"

It's an impolite thing to say.