I haven’t spoken to him for 15 years. And then if you make a question: For how long haven’t you spoken to him?/ or For how long did you say you haven’t spoken to him?/ How long did you say you haven’t spoken to him?
It would take us five months to build a new house. Question: How long would it take us to build a new house?/ How long did you say it would take us to build a new house?
or:
It would take five months to build a new house. Question: How long would it take to build a new house?/ How long did you say it would take to build a new house? How long would it take to have a new house built?
Since you do not wish to reveal anything about yourself, I find it extremely dangerous to answer your question. Moreover, it is not your right to question me about a message that I have posted on this forum. Just out of curiousity you say? Well, you certainly don’t know what it did to the cat. By the way, Cerberus, it’s always wrong when you have secrets. I don’t know where you’re from, how old you are. Yet, it is your privilege to have as many secrets as you want, but I want to have a life free of secrets, vendettas, arrogance, you know, the whole package. So, I think I’ve made myself clear, I don’t like the way you wrote me this message.
Does this satisfy you, my dear?
I am ashamed to admit that I cannot resist posting an answer. Detlef, I can only understand your displeasure by assuming that you interpreted my message as a complaint about your labelling the title of your message “urgent” and addressing it to a single person. Apart from the fact that I was really curious about the cause of this urgency, I must confess that my question was, to a small degree, also meant to make you think a bit about whether you should label a question “urgent”, and whether you should address it to one person. I hoped that you would more willingly consider this in the context of another question than if I told you plainly, which would have sounded too unfriendly for my taste. Incidentally, I do not think anyone minds if you do not wish to tell us anything.
I know it’s really annoying when someone doesn’t answer to you and just criticize… I agree with you about he/she…and of course Alan is a native speaker, a teacher and knowledgeable person. But Cerberus is right you should not ask somebody to reply.
As far as I know we all have the right to participate actively in these discussions. I personally tend to read all the comments and pages and I want to learn what you want to learn.
Besides, Cerberus is a really helpful member who has helped me a lot thus far. Sometimes we are in a bad mood, just try to keep the atmosphere friendly.
Hi Cerberus, I guess I went a little too far. It’s totally my fault. I haven’t been feeling very well lately. You shouldn’t be ashamed to post messages. Moreover, you have also helped me a great deal. I agree with what Richard says. You are a really helpful guy. So, would you please accept my apologies?
Richard, thank you for your compliments, and for your attempt at peacekeeping! For the record: I didn’t say I was against addressing a question to a specific person; I only wished to elicit some reflection or discussion.
Is it possible to say: I haven’t spoken to him for 15 years. And then if you make a question: For how long haven’t you spoken to him?/ or For how long did you say you haven’t spoken to him?/ How long did you say you haven’t spoken to him?-- Yes to all, at various levels of formality.
It would take us five months to build a new house. Question: How long would it take us to build a new house?/ How long did you say it would take us to build a new house?-- all OK
It would take five months to build a new house. Question: How long would it take to build a new house?/ How long did you say it would take to build a new house? How long would it take to have a new house built?-- all OK
;_; ← happy endings, always getting me.
(Me and my expertise on misunderstandings… )
Here is how I see these sentences:
[color=blue][?] For how long haven’t you spoken to him?
[color=darkred]This is an honestly oblivious question, one about duration, which demands… color=blue I haven’t spoken to him for 15 years.
[color=darkred]…a statement about duration, like this negative, for an answer. Now that the information is given…
[color=blue]Sorry, I couldn’t hear/memorize:
[?] For how long did you say you haven’t spoken to him?
[color=blue][?] How long did you say you haven’t spoken to him?
[color=darkred]… these interrogatives acknowledge that the answer has been said/enunciated, and ask for its confirmation or repetition.
One might interpret “for how long” as relating to the “enunciation’s duration”. ([color=blue]“Uhm, it took me ~1.7s to say ‘I haven’t spoken…’; Why?? o_O”[color=darkred]). Possible but unlikely.
One may interpret “How long?” as “How long (ago)?” - not time duration, but misleadingly time distance. Possible and a bit more likely. Anyways, this sounds more informal.
[color=blue][?] How long would it take us to build a new house?
[color=darkred](Oblivious question)
[color=blue][+] It would take us five months to build a new house.
[color=darkred](Informative answer…)
[color=blue][?] How long did you say it would take us to build a new house?
[color=darkred](Question after the answer…)
[color=blue][?] How long would it take to build a new house?
[color=blue][?] How long would it take to have a new house built?
[color=darkred](Equivalent, oblivious questions)
[color=blue][+] It would take five months to build a new house.
[color=darkred](Informative answer…)
[color=blue][?] How long did you say it would take to build a new house?
[color=darkred](Question after the answer…)
… Or maybe I’m just wrong. Does anyone see the sentences like this too? o_O
