Since when have you VS Since when did you

Question

Hi,I'm reading a book by David Sedaris and a sentence says:"Since when did you start working?" Now I'm wondering that "Since when have you started working?" is properer because it is asking "since when". Could you tell me the differences between?Thank you,M

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

But 'start' is an instantaneous act, which would not tolerate present perfect: all in all, neither the original sentence nor years makes good grammatical sense. Compare these?

Q: When did you start working here? A: Last August.
Q: Since when have you been working here? A: Since August.

The explanation which I will suggest (though you have presented no context) is that we also have the idiomatic 'Since when?', which is an expression of surprise, disgust or other (usually negative) emotion. Examples:

You see a young neighbor with a cigarette in her mouth: 'Since when did you start smoking?!'

Brother: 'You really ought to either propose to your girlfriend or dump her and find another one."
You: 'Since when did become Ann Landers?!'

Mitsuo23 · Answer

Thank you for the reply,

This is the longer version of that excerpt, and it seems like "since when" is being used here to express the guests' surprise, as you say.

The guests leaned closer to the table, not sure if I was using the right word. "Your Boss? Since when did you start working?" They turned to Hugh for confirmation. "He has a job?"

(this conversation is taking place in French in the story since all the guests are parisians.)

Thank you,

M

Since when have you VS Since when did you

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