At/from the outset





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0
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Consider the sentence:




We've been friends at/from the outset.




Which preposition is used?






prepositions present-perfect







share|improve this question






















  • It depends on what you're trying to say. Are you still friends?
    – michael.hor257k
    2 days ago










  • @michael.hor257k Yes.
    – Alejandro
    2 days ago






  • 2




    Then use from. Otherwise you're implying you've been friends at the beginning, but stopped being friends at some later time.
    – michael.hor257k
    2 days ago












  • @michael.hor257k since the action shows no present relevance, shouldn't I change the tense? Say, We were friends at the outset?
    – Alejandro
    2 days ago








  • 1




    "We've been friends from the outset" is fine in both grammar and logic. "We've been friends at the outset" is nonsense in grammar and problematic in logic. It could be that that you wanted to say "We were friends at the outset" and is that so? Is that what you meant?
    – Robbie Goodwin
    2 days ago



















up vote
0
down vote

favorite












Consider the sentence:




We've been friends at/from the outset.




Which preposition is used?






prepositions present-perfect







share|improve this question






















  • It depends on what you're trying to say. Are you still friends?
    – michael.hor257k
    2 days ago










  • @michael.hor257k Yes.
    – Alejandro
    2 days ago






  • 2




    Then use from. Otherwise you're implying you've been friends at the beginning, but stopped being friends at some later time.
    – michael.hor257k
    2 days ago












  • @michael.hor257k since the action shows no present relevance, shouldn't I change the tense? Say, We were friends at the outset?
    – Alejandro
    2 days ago








  • 1




    "We've been friends from the outset" is fine in both grammar and logic. "We've been friends at the outset" is nonsense in grammar and problematic in logic. It could be that that you wanted to say "We were friends at the outset" and is that so? Is that what you meant?
    – Robbie Goodwin
    2 days ago















up vote
0
down vote

favorite









up vote
0
down vote

favorite











Consider the sentence:




We've been friends at/from the outset.




Which preposition is used?






prepositions present-perfect







share|improve this question













Consider the sentence:




We've been friends at/from the outset.




Which preposition is used?






prepositions present-perfect




prepositions present-perfect






share|improve this question













share|improve this question











share|improve this question




share|improve this question










asked 2 days ago









Alejandro

230112




230112












  • It depends on what you're trying to say. Are you still friends?
    – michael.hor257k
    2 days ago










  • @michael.hor257k Yes.
    – Alejandro
    2 days ago






  • 2




    Then use from. Otherwise you're implying you've been friends at the beginning, but stopped being friends at some later time.
    – michael.hor257k
    2 days ago












  • @michael.hor257k since the action shows no present relevance, shouldn't I change the tense? Say, We were friends at the outset?
    – Alejandro
    2 days ago








  • 1




    "We've been friends from the outset" is fine in both grammar and logic. "We've been friends at the outset" is nonsense in grammar and problematic in logic. It could be that that you wanted to say "We were friends at the outset" and is that so? Is that what you meant?
    – Robbie Goodwin
    2 days ago




















  • It depends on what you're trying to say. Are you still friends?
    – michael.hor257k
    2 days ago










  • @michael.hor257k Yes.
    – Alejandro
    2 days ago






  • 2




    Then use from. Otherwise you're implying you've been friends at the beginning, but stopped being friends at some later time.
    – michael.hor257k
    2 days ago












  • @michael.hor257k since the action shows no present relevance, shouldn't I change the tense? Say, We were friends at the outset?
    – Alejandro
    2 days ago








  • 1




    "We've been friends from the outset" is fine in both grammar and logic. "We've been friends at the outset" is nonsense in grammar and problematic in logic. It could be that that you wanted to say "We were friends at the outset" and is that so? Is that what you meant?
    – Robbie Goodwin
    2 days ago


















It depends on what you're trying to say. Are you still friends?
– michael.hor257k
2 days ago




It depends on what you're trying to say. Are you still friends?
– michael.hor257k
2 days ago












@michael.hor257k Yes.
– Alejandro
2 days ago




@michael.hor257k Yes.
– Alejandro
2 days ago




2




2




Then use from. Otherwise you're implying you've been friends at the beginning, but stopped being friends at some later time.
– michael.hor257k
2 days ago






Then use from. Otherwise you're implying you've been friends at the beginning, but stopped being friends at some later time.
– michael.hor257k
2 days ago














@michael.hor257k since the action shows no present relevance, shouldn't I change the tense? Say, We were friends at the outset?
– Alejandro
2 days ago






@michael.hor257k since the action shows no present relevance, shouldn't I change the tense? Say, We were friends at the outset?
– Alejandro
2 days ago






1




1




"We've been friends from the outset" is fine in both grammar and logic. "We've been friends at the outset" is nonsense in grammar and problematic in logic. It could be that that you wanted to say "We were friends at the outset" and is that so? Is that what you meant?
– Robbie Goodwin
2 days ago






"We've been friends from the outset" is fine in both grammar and logic. "We've been friends at the outset" is nonsense in grammar and problematic in logic. It could be that that you wanted to say "We were friends at the outset" and is that so? Is that what you meant?
– Robbie Goodwin
2 days ago












2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes

















up vote
0
down vote













We've been friends at/from the outset.



Interesting: TFD 2 idioms (Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary)



at the outset, also, from the outset.




at/from the beginning of something; at/from the start




The reference states that the noun outset is rarely heard
today except in these [2] phrases.



As in:




He wanted to explain his position from the outset.




and




At the outset the problem seemed simple, but then it became quite
complicated.




It appears you can use either.






share|improve this answer




























    up vote
    -1
    down vote













    Use since. We use the present perfect progressive tense (e.g. 'have been') to describe an action that began in the past, continues in the present, and may continue into the future. We use 'since' to discuss the duration of something that has continued from a definite past time and until now. I have been a socialist since I was a teenager. He has been sick since last Tuesday.



    Verb tenses



    Since






    share|improve this answer























    • I thought my answer was sufficiently clear for this site. I'll vote to move it to ELL.
      – Michael Harvey
      2 days ago













    Your Answer








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    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes








    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes








    up vote
    0
    down vote













    We've been friends at/from the outset.



    Interesting: TFD 2 idioms (Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary)



    at the outset, also, from the outset.




    at/from the beginning of something; at/from the start




    The reference states that the noun outset is rarely heard
    today except in these [2] phrases.



    As in:




    He wanted to explain his position from the outset.




    and




    At the outset the problem seemed simple, but then it became quite
    complicated.




    It appears you can use either.






    share|improve this answer

























      up vote
      0
      down vote













      We've been friends at/from the outset.



      Interesting: TFD 2 idioms (Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary)



      at the outset, also, from the outset.




      at/from the beginning of something; at/from the start




      The reference states that the noun outset is rarely heard
      today except in these [2] phrases.



      As in:




      He wanted to explain his position from the outset.




      and




      At the outset the problem seemed simple, but then it became quite
      complicated.




      It appears you can use either.






      share|improve this answer























        up vote
        0
        down vote










        up vote
        0
        down vote









        We've been friends at/from the outset.



        Interesting: TFD 2 idioms (Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary)



        at the outset, also, from the outset.




        at/from the beginning of something; at/from the start




        The reference states that the noun outset is rarely heard
        today except in these [2] phrases.



        As in:




        He wanted to explain his position from the outset.




        and




        At the outset the problem seemed simple, but then it became quite
        complicated.




        It appears you can use either.






        share|improve this answer












        We've been friends at/from the outset.



        Interesting: TFD 2 idioms (Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary)



        at the outset, also, from the outset.




        at/from the beginning of something; at/from the start




        The reference states that the noun outset is rarely heard
        today except in these [2] phrases.



        As in:




        He wanted to explain his position from the outset.




        and




        At the outset the problem seemed simple, but then it became quite
        complicated.




        It appears you can use either.







        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered 2 days ago









        lbf

        16.4k21561




        16.4k21561
























            up vote
            -1
            down vote













            Use since. We use the present perfect progressive tense (e.g. 'have been') to describe an action that began in the past, continues in the present, and may continue into the future. We use 'since' to discuss the duration of something that has continued from a definite past time and until now. I have been a socialist since I was a teenager. He has been sick since last Tuesday.



            Verb tenses



            Since






            share|improve this answer























            • I thought my answer was sufficiently clear for this site. I'll vote to move it to ELL.
              – Michael Harvey
              2 days ago

















            up vote
            -1
            down vote













            Use since. We use the present perfect progressive tense (e.g. 'have been') to describe an action that began in the past, continues in the present, and may continue into the future. We use 'since' to discuss the duration of something that has continued from a definite past time and until now. I have been a socialist since I was a teenager. He has been sick since last Tuesday.



            Verb tenses



            Since






            share|improve this answer























            • I thought my answer was sufficiently clear for this site. I'll vote to move it to ELL.
              – Michael Harvey
              2 days ago















            up vote
            -1
            down vote










            up vote
            -1
            down vote









            Use since. We use the present perfect progressive tense (e.g. 'have been') to describe an action that began in the past, continues in the present, and may continue into the future. We use 'since' to discuss the duration of something that has continued from a definite past time and until now. I have been a socialist since I was a teenager. He has been sick since last Tuesday.



            Verb tenses



            Since






            share|improve this answer














            Use since. We use the present perfect progressive tense (e.g. 'have been') to describe an action that began in the past, continues in the present, and may continue into the future. We use 'since' to discuss the duration of something that has continued from a definite past time and until now. I have been a socialist since I was a teenager. He has been sick since last Tuesday.



            Verb tenses



            Since







            share|improve this answer














            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer








            edited 2 days ago

























            answered 2 days ago









            Michael Harvey

            5,08011019




            5,08011019












            • I thought my answer was sufficiently clear for this site. I'll vote to move it to ELL.
              – Michael Harvey
              2 days ago




















            • I thought my answer was sufficiently clear for this site. I'll vote to move it to ELL.
              – Michael Harvey
              2 days ago


















            I thought my answer was sufficiently clear for this site. I'll vote to move it to ELL.
            – Michael Harvey
            2 days ago






            I thought my answer was sufficiently clear for this site. I'll vote to move it to ELL.
            – Michael Harvey
            2 days ago




















             

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