My question is: why "starting" and not "started" I'm not a native speaker.
A. J. Hoge wrote:
"Since starting 10 years ago, Eve has felt bad."
I would write like this: Since started 10 years ago, Eve has felt bad.
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I would write “Eve has been feeling bad for the last 10 years.”. Unless that’s not what was meant. Perhaps the meaning is that since she started [her job] 10 years ago she has been feeling bad.– JimCommented Jun 16, 2017 at 19:19
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1What's the question?– Laurel ♦Commented Jun 16, 2017 at 19:22
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#Jim it is OK, but I ask about the sentence from A. J. Hoge.– b2okCommented Jun 16, 2017 at 19:22
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#Laurel I just edited my question.– b2okCommented Jun 16, 2017 at 19:26
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1Why would you think that "started" is correct and "starting" isn't?– Rob KCommented Jun 16, 2017 at 19:50
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1 Answer
A.J. Hoge was correct in his writing. Here's why: Starting is a gerund. According to Dictionary.com, a gerund is
a form regularly derived from a verb
and functioning as a noun
That definition may be confusing to you (and that's OK!), so I'll simplify it for you. A gerund is a verb (an action, e.g. to run; to fly) acting as a noun (an object or idea, e.g. an egg; a key; freedom). This change in form (from verb to noun) is accomplished by adding ing to the end of the verb. See, it's really easy! Here are a few examples:
- run > running
- fly > flying
- read > reading
- start > starting
So, in the sentence,
Since starting 10 years ago,
Eve has felt bad.
Starting is a noun/gerund. Since starting is a prepositional phrase, and, according to the definition of a prepositional phrase, a noun or a gerund must be present.
Started is a past-tense verb. Therefore, it cannot be used in the prep. phrase, unless you convert it into the gerund, starting.
The only way that you could use your sentence is by adding a noun into the phrase, such as she, thus becoming this:
Ever since she started 10 years ago,
Eve has felt bad.
Let me know if you have any questions! ;)
