Should I use past or present because the birthday doesn't change?












2
















It was last Sunday.




Should I say, "When was your birthday?" or "When is your birthday?" to make a question for this sentence?






grammar







share|improve this question



























    2
















    It was last Sunday.




    Should I say, "When was your birthday?" or "When is your birthday?" to make a question for this sentence?






    grammar







    share|improve this question

























      2












      2








      2









      It was last Sunday.




      Should I say, "When was your birthday?" or "When is your birthday?" to make a question for this sentence?






      grammar







      share|improve this question















      It was last Sunday.




      Should I say, "When was your birthday?" or "When is your birthday?" to make a question for this sentence?






      grammar




      grammar






      share|improve this question













      share|improve this question











      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question










      asked 15 hours ago









      Mohamed MagdyMohamed Magdy

      191214




      191214






















          4 Answers
          4






          active

          oldest

          votes


















          6














          We usually ask When is your birthday? because the answer is a "constant" (same as What is your name?, it doesn't change from year to year).



          But if you know perfectly well that the person you're asking had a birthday recently, it would be far more natural to ask when that was.



          If you know (or suspect) that the person's birthday is "close" to "today", but you don't actually know whether it's in the recent past or the near future, this creates a bit of a problem, since whichever tense you choose has a fairly high probability of being "inappropriate". Many people would simply cover all bases by asking...




          When is - or was - your birthday?







          share|improve this answer



















          • 1





            I would say when IS is always appropriate because in this case it always IS February 10th, whether they respond with that or last Sunday.

            – AbraCadaver
            9 hours ago



















          5














          Usually one asks




          When is your birthday?




          Since one might be thinking of getting a present for the next birthday.




          When was your birthday?




          is used if you already know you missed their birthday and are seeking clarification.






          share|improve this answer































            0














            If you're asking about the day/month of someone's birthday, then that doesn't change, so it's present tense. But in the example you gave, you are talking about a particular day that was their birthday (day/month/year). "Last Sunday" refers to 10 Feb 2019. That is a particular day that occurred in the past, so it takes past tense. If someone says "My birthday is 10 Feb", what they generally mean is "The tenth of February of every year is my birthday", and so that takes the present tense. "Birthday" can refer to the generic "day each year that has the same day/month as the day I was born", and that takes the present. But it can also refer to a specific day in a specific year that had the same day/month, and that takes the past (if it's already happened).






            share|improve this answer































              0














              If you say




              When was your birthday?




              Then you are implicitly asking




              When was your last birthday?




              If you say




              When is your birthday?




              You are implicitly asking




              When is your next birthday?




              So ask either question, as you prefer. The response might be different. E.g.




              My last birthday was December 25th.




              Or




              My birthday is the same day as Christmas.




              If you would prefer one type of response, then ask in the way that encourages that response. Otherwise, both are correct unless they conflict with something. For example, if someone says




              I just had my birthday.




              It would make more sense to ask when it was, because you're discussing the most recent one. But even then, you can make is work. E.g.




              Oh, so I'm safe from buying presents for a year? When is your next birthday?







              share|improve this answer























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                4 Answers
                4






                active

                oldest

                votes








                4 Answers
                4






                active

                oldest

                votes









                active

                oldest

                votes






                active

                oldest

                votes









                6














                We usually ask When is your birthday? because the answer is a "constant" (same as What is your name?, it doesn't change from year to year).



                But if you know perfectly well that the person you're asking had a birthday recently, it would be far more natural to ask when that was.



                If you know (or suspect) that the person's birthday is "close" to "today", but you don't actually know whether it's in the recent past or the near future, this creates a bit of a problem, since whichever tense you choose has a fairly high probability of being "inappropriate". Many people would simply cover all bases by asking...




                When is - or was - your birthday?







                share|improve this answer



















                • 1





                  I would say when IS is always appropriate because in this case it always IS February 10th, whether they respond with that or last Sunday.

                  – AbraCadaver
                  9 hours ago
















                6














                We usually ask When is your birthday? because the answer is a "constant" (same as What is your name?, it doesn't change from year to year).



                But if you know perfectly well that the person you're asking had a birthday recently, it would be far more natural to ask when that was.



                If you know (or suspect) that the person's birthday is "close" to "today", but you don't actually know whether it's in the recent past or the near future, this creates a bit of a problem, since whichever tense you choose has a fairly high probability of being "inappropriate". Many people would simply cover all bases by asking...




                When is - or was - your birthday?







                share|improve this answer



















                • 1





                  I would say when IS is always appropriate because in this case it always IS February 10th, whether they respond with that or last Sunday.

                  – AbraCadaver
                  9 hours ago














                6












                6








                6







                We usually ask When is your birthday? because the answer is a "constant" (same as What is your name?, it doesn't change from year to year).



                But if you know perfectly well that the person you're asking had a birthday recently, it would be far more natural to ask when that was.



                If you know (or suspect) that the person's birthday is "close" to "today", but you don't actually know whether it's in the recent past or the near future, this creates a bit of a problem, since whichever tense you choose has a fairly high probability of being "inappropriate". Many people would simply cover all bases by asking...




                When is - or was - your birthday?







                share|improve this answer













                We usually ask When is your birthday? because the answer is a "constant" (same as What is your name?, it doesn't change from year to year).



                But if you know perfectly well that the person you're asking had a birthday recently, it would be far more natural to ask when that was.



                If you know (or suspect) that the person's birthday is "close" to "today", but you don't actually know whether it's in the recent past or the near future, this creates a bit of a problem, since whichever tense you choose has a fairly high probability of being "inappropriate". Many people would simply cover all bases by asking...




                When is - or was - your birthday?








                share|improve this answer












                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer










                answered 14 hours ago









                FumbleFingersFumbleFingers

                45.2k155120




                45.2k155120








                • 1





                  I would say when IS is always appropriate because in this case it always IS February 10th, whether they respond with that or last Sunday.

                  – AbraCadaver
                  9 hours ago














                • 1





                  I would say when IS is always appropriate because in this case it always IS February 10th, whether they respond with that or last Sunday.

                  – AbraCadaver
                  9 hours ago








                1




                1





                I would say when IS is always appropriate because in this case it always IS February 10th, whether they respond with that or last Sunday.

                – AbraCadaver
                9 hours ago





                I would say when IS is always appropriate because in this case it always IS February 10th, whether they respond with that or last Sunday.

                – AbraCadaver
                9 hours ago













                5














                Usually one asks




                When is your birthday?




                Since one might be thinking of getting a present for the next birthday.




                When was your birthday?




                is used if you already know you missed their birthday and are seeking clarification.






                share|improve this answer




























                  5














                  Usually one asks




                  When is your birthday?




                  Since one might be thinking of getting a present for the next birthday.




                  When was your birthday?




                  is used if you already know you missed their birthday and are seeking clarification.






                  share|improve this answer


























                    5












                    5








                    5







                    Usually one asks




                    When is your birthday?




                    Since one might be thinking of getting a present for the next birthday.




                    When was your birthday?




                    is used if you already know you missed their birthday and are seeking clarification.






                    share|improve this answer













                    Usually one asks




                    When is your birthday?




                    Since one might be thinking of getting a present for the next birthday.




                    When was your birthday?




                    is used if you already know you missed their birthday and are seeking clarification.







                    share|improve this answer












                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer










                    answered 15 hours ago









                    PeterPeter

                    60.9k553108




                    60.9k553108























                        0














                        If you're asking about the day/month of someone's birthday, then that doesn't change, so it's present tense. But in the example you gave, you are talking about a particular day that was their birthday (day/month/year). "Last Sunday" refers to 10 Feb 2019. That is a particular day that occurred in the past, so it takes past tense. If someone says "My birthday is 10 Feb", what they generally mean is "The tenth of February of every year is my birthday", and so that takes the present tense. "Birthday" can refer to the generic "day each year that has the same day/month as the day I was born", and that takes the present. But it can also refer to a specific day in a specific year that had the same day/month, and that takes the past (if it's already happened).






                        share|improve this answer




























                          0














                          If you're asking about the day/month of someone's birthday, then that doesn't change, so it's present tense. But in the example you gave, you are talking about a particular day that was their birthday (day/month/year). "Last Sunday" refers to 10 Feb 2019. That is a particular day that occurred in the past, so it takes past tense. If someone says "My birthday is 10 Feb", what they generally mean is "The tenth of February of every year is my birthday", and so that takes the present tense. "Birthday" can refer to the generic "day each year that has the same day/month as the day I was born", and that takes the present. But it can also refer to a specific day in a specific year that had the same day/month, and that takes the past (if it's already happened).






                          share|improve this answer


























                            0












                            0








                            0







                            If you're asking about the day/month of someone's birthday, then that doesn't change, so it's present tense. But in the example you gave, you are talking about a particular day that was their birthday (day/month/year). "Last Sunday" refers to 10 Feb 2019. That is a particular day that occurred in the past, so it takes past tense. If someone says "My birthday is 10 Feb", what they generally mean is "The tenth of February of every year is my birthday", and so that takes the present tense. "Birthday" can refer to the generic "day each year that has the same day/month as the day I was born", and that takes the present. But it can also refer to a specific day in a specific year that had the same day/month, and that takes the past (if it's already happened).






                            share|improve this answer













                            If you're asking about the day/month of someone's birthday, then that doesn't change, so it's present tense. But in the example you gave, you are talking about a particular day that was their birthday (day/month/year). "Last Sunday" refers to 10 Feb 2019. That is a particular day that occurred in the past, so it takes past tense. If someone says "My birthday is 10 Feb", what they generally mean is "The tenth of February of every year is my birthday", and so that takes the present tense. "Birthday" can refer to the generic "day each year that has the same day/month as the day I was born", and that takes the present. But it can also refer to a specific day in a specific year that had the same day/month, and that takes the past (if it's already happened).







                            share|improve this answer












                            share|improve this answer



                            share|improve this answer










                            answered 6 hours ago









                            AcccumulationAcccumulation

                            1,23116




                            1,23116























                                0














                                If you say




                                When was your birthday?




                                Then you are implicitly asking




                                When was your last birthday?




                                If you say




                                When is your birthday?




                                You are implicitly asking




                                When is your next birthday?




                                So ask either question, as you prefer. The response might be different. E.g.




                                My last birthday was December 25th.




                                Or




                                My birthday is the same day as Christmas.




                                If you would prefer one type of response, then ask in the way that encourages that response. Otherwise, both are correct unless they conflict with something. For example, if someone says




                                I just had my birthday.




                                It would make more sense to ask when it was, because you're discussing the most recent one. But even then, you can make is work. E.g.




                                Oh, so I'm safe from buying presents for a year? When is your next birthday?







                                share|improve this answer




























                                  0














                                  If you say




                                  When was your birthday?




                                  Then you are implicitly asking




                                  When was your last birthday?




                                  If you say




                                  When is your birthday?




                                  You are implicitly asking




                                  When is your next birthday?




                                  So ask either question, as you prefer. The response might be different. E.g.




                                  My last birthday was December 25th.




                                  Or




                                  My birthday is the same day as Christmas.




                                  If you would prefer one type of response, then ask in the way that encourages that response. Otherwise, both are correct unless they conflict with something. For example, if someone says




                                  I just had my birthday.




                                  It would make more sense to ask when it was, because you're discussing the most recent one. But even then, you can make is work. E.g.




                                  Oh, so I'm safe from buying presents for a year? When is your next birthday?







                                  share|improve this answer


























                                    0












                                    0








                                    0







                                    If you say




                                    When was your birthday?




                                    Then you are implicitly asking




                                    When was your last birthday?




                                    If you say




                                    When is your birthday?




                                    You are implicitly asking




                                    When is your next birthday?




                                    So ask either question, as you prefer. The response might be different. E.g.




                                    My last birthday was December 25th.




                                    Or




                                    My birthday is the same day as Christmas.




                                    If you would prefer one type of response, then ask in the way that encourages that response. Otherwise, both are correct unless they conflict with something. For example, if someone says




                                    I just had my birthday.




                                    It would make more sense to ask when it was, because you're discussing the most recent one. But even then, you can make is work. E.g.




                                    Oh, so I'm safe from buying presents for a year? When is your next birthday?







                                    share|improve this answer













                                    If you say




                                    When was your birthday?




                                    Then you are implicitly asking




                                    When was your last birthday?




                                    If you say




                                    When is your birthday?




                                    You are implicitly asking




                                    When is your next birthday?




                                    So ask either question, as you prefer. The response might be different. E.g.




                                    My last birthday was December 25th.




                                    Or




                                    My birthday is the same day as Christmas.




                                    If you would prefer one type of response, then ask in the way that encourages that response. Otherwise, both are correct unless they conflict with something. For example, if someone says




                                    I just had my birthday.




                                    It would make more sense to ask when it was, because you're discussing the most recent one. But even then, you can make is work. E.g.




                                    Oh, so I'm safe from buying presents for a year? When is your next birthday?








                                    share|improve this answer












                                    share|improve this answer



                                    share|improve this answer










                                    answered 4 hours ago









                                    BrythanBrythan

                                    23613




                                    23613






























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