Are these dialogues ok?

Question

After considering the usage of "since" for a long time since the last thread, I have come up with some context for this structure: "... since + simple past(durative verb)". I think I used them correctly.

Are these dialogues ok? I here I use "since" in a temporal sense.
1. - Since when have you stopped having a bad headache?
- I have stopped having a bad headache since I stayed in that motel for a night. That motel is really an awful place to live!

2. - Since when have you felt relaxed?
- I have felt relaxed since I worked in that factory for a month. I was stressed out a lot working there and now I have resigned and I am feeling better.

3. - Since when have you not been bothered by your neighbors?
- I haven't been bothered by my neighbors since I slept for seven hours. My neighbors kept bothering me during my sleep last night. Now I get up and no one bothers me any more. I didn't have a good sleep last night.

4. - Since when have you felt better?
- I have felt better since I lay on the sofa for three hours. Lying on the sofa just makes me feel dizzy. Now I no longer lie on the sofa and start walking around.

Thank you very much.

Teechr · Accepted Answer

zuotengdazuoI think I used ~~them~~ "since" correctly.

I'm afraid not.

Your interrogative sentences all carry a sense of incredulity or even cynicism!

zuotengdazuo1. - Since when have you stopped having a bad headache?

This can be interpreted as,
You always complain that you have a bad headache.
A more natural question would be,
When did you stop having bad headaches?
or
For how long have you not had a bad headache?

zuotengdazuo- I have stopped having a bad headache since I left that awful musty flat. ~~stayed in that motel for a night. That motel is really an awful place to live!~~

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zuotengdazuo2. - Since when have you felt relaxed?

This can be interpreted as,
You always feel nervous and agitated.
A more natural question would be,
When did you last feel relaxed?

zuotengdazuo- I have felt relaxed since I ~~worked in~~ left that factory ~~for~~ a month ago. I was stressed out a lot working there, and now (that) I have resigned, ~~and~~ I am feeling better.

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zuotengdazuo3. - Since when have you not been bothered by your neighbors?

This can be interpreted as,
You constantly complain about your neighbour bothering you.
A more natural question would be,
For how long have you not been bothered by your neighbours?

zuotengdazuo- I haven't been bothered by my neighbors ~~since I slept~~ for seven hours. ~~My neighbors kept bothering me during my sleep last night. Now I get up and no one bothers me any more. I didn't have a good sleep last night.~~

Fivejedjon · Answer

At least three native speakers, all of them experienced members of this forum, have told you in various threads that you are producing unnatural sentences, zuotengdazuo. All have offered more natural alternatives. Isn't it about time that you accepted that nothing will make the unnatural natural?

Zuotengdazuo · Answer

fivejedjonAt least three native speakers, all of them experienced members of this forum, have told you in various threads that you are producing unnatural sentences, zuotengdazuo. All have offered more natural alternatives. Isn't it about time that you accepted that nothing will make the unnatural natural?

I knew that. But this is an earlier thread than that long one. I already knew my conversations are not natural before I started that long thread. So I am not making fruitless efforts to make the unnatural natural. I have read your suggested natural version carefully and managed to memorize your alternatives. I am grateful for your guidance. I just want to ask Ms AS some questions further because i can't quite understand some part of her explanation. So that long thread isn't over.

Since this thread has been replied to, I want to seize this opportunity to ask you some further questions about "since". Would you please help me?

I think I have thought of a "rule/formula" that may help me make natural sentences with the structure "since + durative verb(past simple)". That is: To make the likes of this sentence natural, the main clause has to be a state and positive and can't contain a time adverbial.

For example, these sentences sounds odd:
1. I haven't heard from him since he lived in London.
2. I haven't heard any noise since I slept.
3. He has never been ill since I lived with him.

But these sounds better:
1.1 I have heard from him regularly since he lived in London. (This means "I have heard from him regularly since he moved away from London")
2.1 I have heard some noise intermittently since I slept. (This means "I have heard some noise intermittently since I woke up")
3.1 He has been ill for some time since I lived with him. (This means "He has been ill for some time since I left him")

Please check my understanding.
Thank you for your time and patience.
Best wishes,
Zuotengdazuo

Fivejedjon · Answer

zuotengdazuoBut these sounds better:1.1 I have heard from him regularly since he lived in London. (This means "I have heard from him regularly since he moved away from London")2.1 I have heard some noise intermittently since I slept. (This means "I have heard some noise intermittently since I woke up")3.1 He has been ill for some time since I lived with him. (This means "He has been ill for some time since I left him")

Those are not very natural either.

Your versions in brackets are what we'd say.

Zuotengdazuo · Answer

fivejedjonThose are not very natural either.

Thank you. I see.
Then how about these versions?
1.2 I have heard from him regularly since he last lived in London. (This means "I have heard from him regularly since he moved away from London")
2.2 I have heard some noise intermittently since I last slept. (This means "I have heard some noise intermittently since I woke up")
3.2 He has been ill for some time since I last lived with him. (This means "He has been ill for some time since I left him")

Fivejedjon · Answer

I suppose your versions are possible, though the versions in brackets are fare more likely. I really do not understand why you continue to urge the acceptability of sentences no native speaker would ever produce.

Zuotengdazuo · Answer

fivejedjonI suppose your versions are possible, though the versions in brackets are fare more likely. I really do not understand why you continue to urge the acceptability of sentences no native speaker would ever produce.

Ok. I get you. So no native speaker would ever produce sentences like " ... since sb stayed/smoked/slept/worked, etc", because the structure "... since sb + durative verb(past simple)" is not natural, if not wrong, right?
I produce these versions because my grammar book tells me you can say sentences like that and it is important for me to understand this structure or I would misuse "since".

Are these dialogues ok?

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