When or since?

Question

Then again, I personally can sing, dance and draw but my parents have none of those abilities. I was singing and drawing since/when I was little but had never been in a choir or to an art class in my life.

My book says that the right answer is when, but is since wrong? and if so, why?

Ivanhr · Accepted Answer

Normally, we expect a present perfect (or present perfect progressive) verb to precede since. For example

I've sung/drawn since I was little.

The present perfect is often used for an action/event etc that happened in the past and has continued into the present.

Teechr · Answer

Kanou I was singing and drawing since/when I was little but had never been in a choir or to an art class in my life.

I question the use of the past continuous (was singing and drawing) and the past perfect (had never been) in that sentence!

A better sentence would be: "I used to sing and draw when I was little but have never been in a choir or to an art class in my life".

What book are you using?

CalifJim · Answer

KanouMy book says that the right answer is when

I suppose it's the right answer if those are the only choices, but there are more idiomatic ways of saying that.

Kanou is since wrong? and if so, why?

Yes, it's wrong. We expect the present perfect tense with "since", thus:

I have been singing and drawing since I was little.

The meaning changes, however. Now you're saying that your singing and drawing have continued up to now; not just when you were little.

.....[ You are little. ] ............ [Now you are not little anymore.]
1. ... XXXXXXXXX ................................................................
2. ... XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

1. was ... when I was little.
2. have been ... since I was little.

CJ

Fivejedjon · Answer

Kanou I was singing and drawing since/when I was little but had never been in a choir or to an art class in my life.
teechr: I question the use of the past continuous (was singing and drawing) and the past perfect (had never been) in that sentence!

I see nothing unnatural in the use of those verb forms. Your "I used to sing and draw when I was little but have never been in a choir or to an art class in my life" is also correct, but conveys a slightly different message.

Kanou · Answer

teechrWhat book are you using?

I'm using Cambridge English Complete Advanced (second edition) by Guy Brook-Hart and Simon Haines. I like this book since it has a lot of exercises that are similar to those that appear in the exam.

I suppose I got confused with this exercise since I wouldn't express myself like they did. Because in the first sentence the person is declaring to still be doing those actions (or at least that she still can do them), and in the second sentence they are talking about the skills as if they were part of the past.

To sum up I would have written what you suggested teechr :

teechr"I used to sing and draw when I was little but have never been in a choir or to an art class in my life".

Or I would have written what CalifJim wrote even though the meaning is different it sounds to me more natural.

I have been singing and drawing since I was little.

Thank you all for the explanation and examples!!

When or since?

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