Scarlet Ribbon
[@Background Pony \#AB28](/forums/dis/topics/when-did-tantabus-ai-be-founded?post_id=663#post_663)
I'm not an English teacher, but I'll do my best to explain.
"When was" is used to ask about the state of something in the past, typically focusing on a singular subject, while "when did" is used to ask about a specific action that happened in the past, requiring a verb following the subject to complete the question. Technically 'be' is a verb, so it isn't wholly *wrong* in a broader structural sense, but this is a case where English has an exception that takes precedence. You'll note that 'be' -- 'the state of being' -- is the exact scenario we use for 'when was' structure instead, because to 'be' something is to be in a specific state.
"When did the owner found Tantabus.ai?" would be a valid structure. You are asking about an action that was taken, not a state of being.
"When did Tantabus.ai start?" would be another valid structure. This is still a query about an action being taken, not a state of being.
When talking about a FUTURE event, using 'when will' instead of 'what was', as "When will Tantabus.ai be founded?" is correct. This rule only applies to past events.
I'm not an English teacher, but I'll do my best to explain.
"When was" is used to ask about the state of something in the past, typically focusing on a singular subject, while "when did" is used to ask about a specific action that happened in the past, requiring a verb following the subject to complete the question. Technically 'be' is a verb, so it isn't wholly *wrong* in a broader structural sense, but this is a case where English has an exception that takes precedence. You'll note that 'be' -- 'the state of being' -- is the exact scenario we use for 'when was' structure instead, because to 'be' something is to be in a specific state.
"When did the owner found Tantabus.ai?" would be a valid structure. You are asking about an action that was taken, not a state of being.
"When did Tantabus.ai start?" would be another valid structure. This is still a query about an action being taken, not a state of being.
When talking about a FUTURE event, using 'when will' instead of 'what was', as "When will Tantabus.ai be founded?" is correct. This rule only applies to past events.