Since and from

[thehammer]

Hello there, I have some questions regarding 'since when' and 'from when"

1- From/since when did marks start defining your succes?
2- From when did humans stop evolving?

And should I need any of these prepositions there? Sometimes I see they are used in a way such as 'from when', 'since when', what's the rule?

Here are some other examples:

3- Since when do I need to go there?
4- From when do I need to go there?

5- From when to when will the shop be open?
6- From what day to what day will the shop be open?

7- From/since when will you start exercising?

 

[Barque]

1- From/since when did marks start defining your succes?

"Since", not "from". "Since when" means "How long has it been since". It sounds as if the speaker doesn't think you should let marks define your success. That's how "Since when" is often used--to express disbelief or irony.

2- From when did humans stop evolving?

You don't need "From". You can just start with "When" if you're asking about when humans stopped evolving (if they have).

3- Since when do I need to go there?
4- From when do I need to go there?

Both are possible. What do you mean?

Since when do I need to go there? This sounds like an ironic way of asking "Have I needed to go there lately?"
From when do I need to go there? This means "When do I have to start going there?"

From when to when will the shop be open?

What are the shop's timings?
When does the shop open and close?

6- From what day to what day will the shop be open?

Are you asking about what days the shop is normally open?

Is the shop open every day?
Is the shop closed on any day of the week?

7- From/since when will you start exercising?

Just use "When". No "from" or "since" needed.

 

[thehammer]

I misread your last sentence. I've corrected my post now.

Is there any chance of 'from when' getting correct in the past tense?

 

[Barque]

Is there any chance of 'from when' getting correct in the past tense?

What do you mean by "getting correct"?

You need to provide an example sentence.

 

[thehammer]

What do you mean by "getting correct"?

You need to provide an example sentence.

From when did the British begin to colonize the world?

 

[Barque]

I wouldn't use "From when".
When did the British start colonising other places?
When did British colonialism begin?

 

[Tarheel]

Abe: When did the British colonial period start?
Bob: I don't know.
Abe: Would you look it up for me?
Bob: You're the one who wants to know. How about if you look it up?

 

[thehammer]

"Since", not "from". "Since when" means "How long has it been since". It sounds as if the speaker doesn't think you should let marks define your success. That's how "Since when" is often used--to express disbelief or irony.

You don't need "From". You can just start with "When" if you're asking about when humans stopped evolving (if they have).


Both are possible. What do you mean?

Since when do I need to go there? This sounds like an ironic way of asking "Have I needed to go there lately?"
From when do I need to go there? This means "When do I have to start going there?"


What are the shop's timings?
When does the shop open and close?


Are you asking about what days the shop is normally open?

Is the shop open every day?
Is the shop closed on any day of the week?


Just use "When". No "from" or "since" needed.

When will you start exercising?

Ans:- I will start exercising (from) tomorrow?

Can I say that?

 

[Barque]

Ans:- I will start exercising (from) tomorrow.?

You could. However it'd be unnatural in conversation to repeat "start exercising".

A: When will you start exercising?
B: Tomorrow/From tomorrow/I plan to start tomorrow/I'm thinking of starting tomorrow.

 

[jutfrank]

I'll start exercising from tomorrow.

This sounds quite natural but I say it's wrong, because of the punctual meaning of start. Something starts at a certain point in time. The sense of from is that there's a point in time that marks the beginning of a period.

Lessons are from 9.00 (to 13.45) every day.
Lessons start at 9.00 (and finish at 13.45) every day .

 

[Tarheel]

Q: When will you start exercising?
A: Tomorrow

"I will start exercising tomorrow" is also possible although less likely.

 

[5jj]

I'll start exercising from tomorrow.

This sounds quite natural but I say it's wrong, because of the punctual meaning of start. Something starts at a certain point in time. The sense of from is that there's a point in time that marks the beginning of a period.

I think this is a case where common usage bests prescription-based rules.
it sounds quite natural. It is quite natural. It is not wrong.

 

[thehammer]

Hello there, I have got a point. As you said when asking a question, from should be dumped like in the following case.

1- (From) when will you go to college? (After a gap of few days due physical health conditions)

Ans:- I will go to college (from) tomorrow.

Now when I answer I can use 'from' or not. But when I ask a question, it starts with 'when', no from. Am I right?

 

[Barque]

When will you go to college?
The term starts tomorrow./Tomorrow's my first day.

 

[Skrej]

I see that two of our BrE speakers find 'I'll start exercising from tomorrow' natural, albeit with slightly differing opinions on correctness.

From my AmE perspective, I find it both unnatural and incorrect to include 'from' there.

You could. However it'd be unnatural in conversation to repeat "start exercising".

I think we're back to that issue of 'unnatural vs. unnecessary', which to me are different. I think it's quite natural to repeat it in the answer. Is it strictly necessary? No, but it's commonly done and therefore not unnatural.

 

[Barque]

but I say it's wrong, because of the punctual meaning of start.

If you want to tell someone today that you intend to begin an exercise program tomorrow, how'd you say it, in regular everyday language? Would you use "begin" instead of "start"?

 

[jutfrank]

If the subject were 'I', then I'd be more likely use 'start' than 'begin'.

I start tomorrow.

If the subject were the program, I'd be more likely to use 'begin':

The program begins tomorrow.

 

[Tarheel]

Hello there, I have got a point. As you said when asking a question, from should be dumped like in the following case.

1- (From) when will you go to college? (After a gap of few days due physical health conditions)

Ans:- I will go to college (from) tomorrow.

Now when I answer I can use 'from' or not. But when I ask a question, it starts with 'when', no from. Am I right?

No, you're not right. (See below.)

Q: When are you starting classes?
A: Tomorrow.