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I, normally, use 'from what time' and 'how long' to ask someone (e.g. a seller) something like

from what time did you open the store, today?
How long is your shop is open today?

But I don't know if 'from what time' is usual or no. I think that 'since when' is sometimes used when I have a complaint and say for example

Since when did you have the right to get my father's book?

Tell me please if 'from what time' is a usual phrase to ask such things.

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  • How long since has the shop been open?
    – GOPI NATH
    Commented Apr 27, 2018 at 0:51

1 Answer 1

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The following are idiomatic:

When did you open the shop today?

At what time did you open the shop today?

When does the shop open?

At what time does the shop open?

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  • Yes, I use it sometimes; but to ask when the time of coming is important for me; but by the above questions I would like to know how long they have been here.
    – hossayni
    Commented Jan 15, 2015 at 10:55
  • If at noon you ask "How long has the shop been open today?" and you receive the reply "four hours", you would know that the shop opened at 8AM.
    – TimR
    Commented Jan 15, 2015 at 11:18
  • Yes, but you know that language usage is completely focus-sensitive. sometimes I focus on the beginning time and sometimes on the interval, though the answers are convertible.
    – hossayni
    Commented Jan 15, 2015 at 11:42
  • Please clarify what you mean by "I would like to know how long they have been here". Your question is a moving target.
    – TimR
    Commented Jan 15, 2015 at 11:47
  • "Since what time have you been open today?" would receive a time of day in response, but it is an awkward way to ask, compared to "What time did you open today?" or "At what time did you open today?"
    – TimR
    Commented Jan 15, 2015 at 11:49

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