Is “Over how many days is your coughing problem now?” correctly phrased?
How do ask the duration in days of person's coughing in English?
Let's say you have a friend who have been constantly coughing for several days until now. You asked:
Over how many days is/are your coughing problem now?
Is this the correct way of asking that?
grammar sentence-construction
edited 3 hours ago
V2Blast
1196
asked 8 hours ago
John ArvinJohn Arvin
1,044834
add a comment |
How do ask the duration in days of person's coughing in English?
Let's say you have a friend who have been constantly coughing for several days until now. You asked:
Over how many days is/are your coughing problem now?
Is this the correct way of asking that?
grammar sentence-construction
edited 3 hours ago
V2Blast
1196
asked 8 hours ago
John ArvinJohn Arvin
1,044834
add a comment |
How do ask the duration in days of person's coughing in English?
Let's say you have a friend who have been constantly coughing for several days until now. You asked:
Over how many days is/are your coughing problem now?
Is this the correct way of asking that?
grammar sentence-construction
edited 3 hours ago
V2Blast
1196
asked 8 hours ago
John ArvinJohn Arvin
1,044834
How do ask the duration in days of person's coughing in English?
Let's say you have a friend who have been constantly coughing for several days until now. You asked:
Over how many days is/are your coughing problem now?
Is this the correct way of asking that?
grammar sentence-construction
grammar sentence-construction
edited 3 hours ago
V2Blast
1196
asked 8 hours ago
John ArvinJohn Arvin
1,044834
edited 3 hours ago
V2Blast
1196
asked 8 hours ago
John ArvinJohn Arvin
1,044834
edited 3 hours ago
V2Blast
1196
edited 3 hours ago
V2Blast
1196
edited 3 hours ago
V2Blast
1196
1196
asked 8 hours ago
John ArvinJohn Arvin
1,044834
asked 8 hours ago
John ArvinJohn Arvin
1,044834
asked 8 hours ago
John ArvinJohn Arvin
1,044834
1,044834
add a comment |
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
The idiomatic expression for inquiring about a duration is "how long"; you might ask your friend, "How long have you had this cough?"
answered 7 hours ago
HellionHellion
16.9k13867
If I said "Over how many days have you been coughing now?" to a friend, he or she might say "Have you swallowed a dictionary?".
– Michael Harvey
7 hours ago
@MichaelHarvey, what? Is "over how many days have you been coughing now?" Wrong?
– John Arvin
6 hours ago
3
@JohnArvin It is comprehendable, but it is not at all normal, conversational English.
– Hellion
6 hours ago
"Over how many days have you been coughing now?" has too many words; it is too verbose, it is something a robot might say.
– Michael Harvey
6 hours ago
1
How many days have you had that cough might be the best. I just incorporated the answer here into my newly constructed sentence. Thx
– John Arvin
5 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
The present perfect progressive construction would be perfect for this context. This construction is used for ongoing action in the past that continues right up to the present, has recently finished, or will continue beyond the present. It is particularly common when asking or stating the duration of an ongoing action. Here are some examples:
Q: Over how many days have you been coughing now?
A: I have been coughing for three days.
or
Q: Over how many days has your coughing problem been occurring?
A: It has been occurring over three days.
answered 8 hours ago
TashusTashus
5,941820
3
"Over" isn't the right word here. You could say (in a very formal style of English) "For how many days …" but the normal expression would be just "How many days ..." or "How long..."
– alephzero
4 hours ago
@alephzero My answer is focusing on the construction of the verb. While I agree that "over how many days" may not be the best idiomatic wording, I see no reason why it is wrong. "Over [some time period]" is quite common.
– Tashus
3 hours ago
add a comment |
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2 Answers
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active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
The idiomatic expression for inquiring about a duration is "how long"; you might ask your friend, "How long have you had this cough?"
answered 7 hours ago
HellionHellion
16.9k13867
If I said "Over how many days have you been coughing now?" to a friend, he or she might say "Have you swallowed a dictionary?".
– Michael Harvey
7 hours ago
@MichaelHarvey, what? Is "over how many days have you been coughing now?" Wrong?
– John Arvin
6 hours ago
3
@JohnArvin It is comprehendable, but it is not at all normal, conversational English.
– Hellion
6 hours ago
"Over how many days have you been coughing now?" has too many words; it is too verbose, it is something a robot might say.
– Michael Harvey
6 hours ago
1
How many days have you had that cough might be the best. I just incorporated the answer here into my newly constructed sentence. Thx
– John Arvin
5 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
The idiomatic expression for inquiring about a duration is "how long"; you might ask your friend, "How long have you had this cough?"
answered 7 hours ago
HellionHellion
16.9k13867
If I said "Over how many days have you been coughing now?" to a friend, he or she might say "Have you swallowed a dictionary?".
– Michael Harvey
7 hours ago
@MichaelHarvey, what? Is "over how many days have you been coughing now?" Wrong?
– John Arvin
6 hours ago
3
@JohnArvin It is comprehendable, but it is not at all normal, conversational English.
– Hellion
6 hours ago
"Over how many days have you been coughing now?" has too many words; it is too verbose, it is something a robot might say.
– Michael Harvey
6 hours ago
1
How many days have you had that cough might be the best. I just incorporated the answer here into my newly constructed sentence. Thx
– John Arvin
5 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
The idiomatic expression for inquiring about a duration is "how long"; you might ask your friend, "How long have you had this cough?"
answered 7 hours ago
HellionHellion
16.9k13867
The idiomatic expression for inquiring about a duration is "how long"; you might ask your friend, "How long have you had this cough?"
answered 7 hours ago
HellionHellion
16.9k13867
edited 6 hours ago
answered 7 hours ago
HellionHellion
16.9k13867
answered 7 hours ago
HellionHellion
16.9k13867
answered 7 hours ago
HellionHellion
16.9k13867
16.9k13867
If I said "Over how many days have you been coughing now?" to a friend, he or she might say "Have you swallowed a dictionary?".
– Michael Harvey
7 hours ago
@MichaelHarvey, what? Is "over how many days have you been coughing now?" Wrong?
– John Arvin
6 hours ago
3
@JohnArvin It is comprehendable, but it is not at all normal, conversational English.
– Hellion
6 hours ago
"Over how many days have you been coughing now?" has too many words; it is too verbose, it is something a robot might say.
– Michael Harvey
6 hours ago
1
How many days have you had that cough might be the best. I just incorporated the answer here into my newly constructed sentence. Thx
– John Arvin
5 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
If I said "Over how many days have you been coughing now?" to a friend, he or she might say "Have you swallowed a dictionary?".
– Michael Harvey
7 hours ago
@MichaelHarvey, what? Is "over how many days have you been coughing now?" Wrong?
– John Arvin
6 hours ago
3
@JohnArvin It is comprehendable, but it is not at all normal, conversational English.
– Hellion
6 hours ago
"Over how many days have you been coughing now?" has too many words; it is too verbose, it is something a robot might say.
– Michael Harvey
6 hours ago
1
How many days have you had that cough might be the best. I just incorporated the answer here into my newly constructed sentence. Thx
– John Arvin
5 hours ago
If I said "Over how many days have you been coughing now?" to a friend, he or she might say "Have you swallowed a dictionary?".
– Michael Harvey
7 hours ago
If I said "Over how many days have you been coughing now?" to a friend, he or she might say "Have you swallowed a dictionary?".
– Michael Harvey
7 hours ago
@MichaelHarvey, what? Is "over how many days have you been coughing now?" Wrong?
– John Arvin
6 hours ago
@MichaelHarvey, what? Is "over how many days have you been coughing now?" Wrong?
– John Arvin
6 hours ago
3
3
@JohnArvin It is comprehendable, but it is not at all normal, conversational English.
– Hellion
6 hours ago
@JohnArvin It is comprehendable, but it is not at all normal, conversational English.
– Hellion
6 hours ago
"Over how many days have you been coughing now?" has too many words; it is too verbose, it is something a robot might say.
– Michael Harvey
6 hours ago
"Over how many days have you been coughing now?" has too many words; it is too verbose, it is something a robot might say.
– Michael Harvey
6 hours ago
1
1
How many days have you had that cough might be the best. I just incorporated the answer here into my newly constructed sentence. Thx
– John Arvin
5 hours ago
How many days have you had that cough might be the best. I just incorporated the answer here into my newly constructed sentence. Thx
– John Arvin
5 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
The present perfect progressive construction would be perfect for this context. This construction is used for ongoing action in the past that continues right up to the present, has recently finished, or will continue beyond the present. It is particularly common when asking or stating the duration of an ongoing action. Here are some examples:
Q: Over how many days have you been coughing now?
A: I have been coughing for three days.
or
Q: Over how many days has your coughing problem been occurring?
A: It has been occurring over three days.
answered 8 hours ago
TashusTashus
5,941820
3
"Over" isn't the right word here. You could say (in a very formal style of English) "For how many days …" but the normal expression would be just "How many days ..." or "How long..."
– alephzero
4 hours ago
@alephzero My answer is focusing on the construction of the verb. While I agree that "over how many days" may not be the best idiomatic wording, I see no reason why it is wrong. "Over [some time period]" is quite common.
– Tashus
3 hours ago
add a comment |
The present perfect progressive construction would be perfect for this context. This construction is used for ongoing action in the past that continues right up to the present, has recently finished, or will continue beyond the present. It is particularly common when asking or stating the duration of an ongoing action. Here are some examples:
Q: Over how many days have you been coughing now?
A: I have been coughing for three days.
or
Q: Over how many days has your coughing problem been occurring?
A: It has been occurring over three days.
answered 8 hours ago
TashusTashus
5,941820
3
"Over" isn't the right word here. You could say (in a very formal style of English) "For how many days …" but the normal expression would be just "How many days ..." or "How long..."
– alephzero
4 hours ago
@alephzero My answer is focusing on the construction of the verb. While I agree that "over how many days" may not be the best idiomatic wording, I see no reason why it is wrong. "Over [some time period]" is quite common.
– Tashus
3 hours ago
add a comment |
The present perfect progressive construction would be perfect for this context. This construction is used for ongoing action in the past that continues right up to the present, has recently finished, or will continue beyond the present. It is particularly common when asking or stating the duration of an ongoing action. Here are some examples:
Q: Over how many days have you been coughing now?
A: I have been coughing for three days.
or
Q: Over how many days has your coughing problem been occurring?
A: It has been occurring over three days.
answered 8 hours ago
TashusTashus
5,941820
The present perfect progressive construction would be perfect for this context. This construction is used for ongoing action in the past that continues right up to the present, has recently finished, or will continue beyond the present. It is particularly common when asking or stating the duration of an ongoing action. Here are some examples:
Q: Over how many days have you been coughing now?
A: I have been coughing for three days.
or
Q: Over how many days has your coughing problem been occurring?
A: It has been occurring over three days.
answered 8 hours ago
TashusTashus
5,941820
answered 8 hours ago
TashusTashus
5,941820
answered 8 hours ago
TashusTashus
5,941820
answered 8 hours ago
TashusTashus
5,941820
5,941820
3
"Over" isn't the right word here. You could say (in a very formal style of English) "For how many days …" but the normal expression would be just "How many days ..." or "How long..."
– alephzero
4 hours ago
@alephzero My answer is focusing on the construction of the verb. While I agree that "over how many days" may not be the best idiomatic wording, I see no reason why it is wrong. "Over [some time period]" is quite common.
– Tashus
3 hours ago
add a comment |
3
"Over" isn't the right word here. You could say (in a very formal style of English) "For how many days …" but the normal expression would be just "How many days ..." or "How long..."
– alephzero
4 hours ago
@alephzero My answer is focusing on the construction of the verb. While I agree that "over how many days" may not be the best idiomatic wording, I see no reason why it is wrong. "Over [some time period]" is quite common.
– Tashus
3 hours ago
3
3
"Over" isn't the right word here. You could say (in a very formal style of English) "For how many days …" but the normal expression would be just "How many days ..." or "How long..."
– alephzero
4 hours ago
"Over" isn't the right word here. You could say (in a very formal style of English) "For how many days …" but the normal expression would be just "How many days ..." or "How long..."
– alephzero
4 hours ago
@alephzero My answer is focusing on the construction of the verb. While I agree that "over how many days" may not be the best idiomatic wording, I see no reason why it is wrong. "Over [some time period]" is quite common.
– Tashus
3 hours ago
@alephzero My answer is focusing on the construction of the verb. While I agree that "over how many days" may not be the best idiomatic wording, I see no reason why it is wrong. "Over [some time period]" is quite common.
– Tashus
3 hours ago
add a comment |
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