Use of è che

Can someone explain the difference between ‘Da quanto tempo stai qui’ and ‘Da quanto tempo è che stai qui’

Hi John,

Great question! Both "Da quanto tempo stai qui" and "Da quanto tempo è che stai qui" mean essentially the same thing: "How long have you been here?" However, there’s a subtle difference in structure and style that sets them apart.

1. "Da quanto tempo stai qui"

• - This is the simpler and more straightforward version.
• - It directly asks, "How long have you been here?" without any added emphasis or structure.
• - It’s more commonly used in casual spoken Italian and is grammatically simpler.
•  

2. "Da quanto tempo è che stai qui"

• - This version adds "è che" as an emphasis or rhetorical flourish.
• - Literally translated, it means something like, "How long is it that you’ve been here?"
• - It’s slightly more nuanced and often used to emphasize the duration of time. For example, you might use it if you’re surprised at how long someone has been there or are drawing more attention to the time frame.
• - It’s a bit more conversational and is often heard in informal or spoken Italian.
•  

So, what's the difference?

• - "Da quanto tempo stai qui" is concise and neutral. It works in any context.
• - "Da quanto tempo è che stai qui" adds a bit of emphasis or rhetorical weight, making the question feel more expressive or curious.
•  

In general, both forms are correct and interchangeable. The use of "è che" simply adds a touch of stylistic variation. I hope this clears up the difference for you!

Best regards,
Enxhi