Negative interrogative phrase ?

Hi,

have a bath BrE or take a bath AmE is more usual than 'bathe' meaning wash yourself or someone else.

I would ask

When did you last take a bath?

I agree with Linguaphile, but if you want to keep closer to your original question, "How long has it been since your last bath?"

that's not what i meant

i mean can i use that kind of structure (negative interogative ) and the structure is this : For how long haven't you been bathing or for how long haven't you bathed? Are they correct and acceptable?

any teacher could help , will be really appreciated

Okay, let's take a different example.

You go to the doctor and say "I haven't been sleeping well."

He may say "For how long haven't you been sleeping well?" - it's an awkward, ugly construction, but not incorrect. Or "How long has it been since you started to not sleep well?" Also awkward.

There's a difference between correct and natural. Your constructions may be

Thanks Grammar Geek.

so it's not wrong , but either of them is awkward, as you said, so what do u think are the beauti

AnthonHi everyone
I need your guidance for this case. Can I say this: 1. For how long haven't you been bathing? or this 2. For how long haven't you bathed?Thanks for the help

sorry

but does anyone know how to rearrange those phrases to a nice and not awkward?

Thanks

When you need two negatives, it's better to change it around to a positive.

How are you? I heard you weren't sleeping well.
No, my troubles with not sleeping well are over.
Oh, good, how long have you not been not sleeping well? -- awkward!
Oh, good, how long have you been sleeping well now?

This is a silly example, but it shows what I mean.

If you are looki