Questions tagged [when]
The when tag has no usage guidance.
79
questions
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5
answers
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"In cases when" vs. "in cases where"
This is one I struggle with from time to time. Which is better?
Methodology X is more suitable in cases where users' needs are well understood up front.
Methodology X is more suitable in cases ...
9
votes
3
answers
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"If I go.." vs. "If I will go.." referring to the future [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Future tense in conditional clauses
Which one is correct?
option 1: If I go there, I can meet her
or
option 2: If I will go there, I can meet her
I clearly remember, ...
8
votes
2
answers
16k
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For when [insert phrase]
5 cakes you can eat for when you're trying to gain weight.
Materials needed for when you build your time machine.
Recommended surrender terms for when our planet is invaded.
Word for when a writer ...
6
votes
5
answers
103k
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Difference between "when" and "if" in a sentence
I was doing a grammar activity and filling in sentences when I came across the instruction: "fill in when or if."
I was wondering, since these two can be used in a lot of same sentences, what is the ...
6
votes
4
answers
19k
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"When" or "Where" when refering to scenario?
In a sentence like, "This bias may not be acceptable in all scenarios, especially where/when recall is important," which of where/when should be used?
5
votes
4
answers
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Relative pronouns "where" and "when": where can they be omitted?
I know the "omitting-rules" regarding the relative pronouns who/which/that and whose. How does it work with where and when? In the first sentence I cannot omit where but I can easily omit when in the ...
5
votes
3
answers
986
views
Future tense usage: "When you see it ..."
I wonder why the phrase is "When you see it you will shit brix," and not "When you will see it you will shit brix."
Is the version with two will incorrect? What grammar rule says that you should not ...
5
votes
3
answers
28k
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Is "when" a preposition?
I had to come up with an "edit-the-mistakes" worksheet for a Special Education student on-the-fly. One of my offerings was this sentence:
When I was three years old I can tie my shoes.
I had ...
5
votes
2
answers
19k
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When / While + gerund
I would like to ask about two things
Can both "while" and "when" be used with a gerund?
Which one sounds better: "While ordering" or "when ordering" ?
While ordering a taxi, reliability is very ...
4
votes
2
answers
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Which is correct: "when you have finished" or "when you will finish"?
From an English test on Facebook:
When you have finished to move the furniture, let me know.
or
When you will finish moving the furniture, let me know.
I think the correct one is the former, ...
4
votes
3
answers
16k
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"Location" vs. "locality" [closed]
I can't seem to find a good explanation of what the differences are between the words location and locality. Are they interchangeable, or are there certain contexts in which one or the other must be ...
4
votes
1
answer
7k
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An era of intelligent machines where vs an era of intelligent machines when [duplicate]
I'm writing a essay and I haven't really studied or have had to use proper grammar in years now. For the following sentence:
We are now in a era of intelligent machines where Amazon has drones and ...
3
votes
3
answers
499
views
Using the conjunction "when" with the Present Perfect, Present Perfect Continuous, Past Simple and the Past Continuous Tense
From a grammatical point of view, I'm trying to understand the use of these tenses in the "when" clause. I'll give you an example. All of these example sentences are from native English ...
3
votes
3
answers
6k
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When can "as" be used instead of "when"?
I am having problems explaining the use of "as" and "when" to my foreign language pupils...
To me, this sentence is wrong "Even as he had the chance to help, he did not."
I would say "Even when he ...
3
votes
3
answers
4k
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Can I use "when" + future tense in this case?
Can I use "when" + future tense in this case?
I'm not sure when it will be released.
3
votes
1
answer
2k
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Somewhere, somewhat, somehow, some...day? [duplicate]
While talking to myself the other day, I noticed something odd.
We have the five W words and the H:
What
When
Where
Who
Why
How
I've heard three of these words said with "some" at the start:
...
3
votes
2
answers
198
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When and why can you omit “when” (or other conjunctions or prepositions) before a gerund clause that’s used adverbially?
I had a bad experience working there.
Is that sentence correct, or must I write:
I had a bad experience when working there.
I had a bad experience while working there.
or even:
...
3
votes
3
answers
9k
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Can "when verb+ing" refer to an activity in the past?
A correct sentence would be: When they were designing the product, they paid attention to...
Is this grammatically correct: When designing the product, attention was paid...
3
votes
1
answer
3k
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Mixed tense sentence + When clause
Is it legal to write something like this:
When I'm trying to post a form system alerts me with a warning message.
I've seen people use this kind of writing.
EDIT
I don't know why (perhaps that'...
3
votes
1
answer
523
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Subordinating conjunctions "who" & "when" as subject clause?
I understand who and when can be used to introduce adjective clause for sure like the following sentences.
The time when it is good for us to meet has not been decided.
The person who is qualified ...
2
votes
10
answers
625
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How do I ask "when" without implying past or future?
"When did or will the event happen?" — This sounds silly to me.
To make matters worse, I would like to use passive voice because the question is in reference to a statement that uses passive voice.
"...
2
votes
1
answer
22k
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"It was from that moment where" vs. "it was from that moment when"
Now that I think about it, it was from
that moment where I started to have
doubts about him.
Would it be better to use the word "when" instead of "where," or are they both equally valid word ...
2
votes
1
answer
548
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"We eat when I say we eat!"
"Quiet! We eat when I say we eat!"
"OK, we wait for your say-so."
Why can we omit the first "will" in sentences such as:
"We will eat when I say so!"
"We will eat, when I say 'we eat'!"
"We ...
2
votes
1
answer
6k
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"Remember those times that" or "remember those times when"
I have seen that in certain places the phrase "remember those times that" is used, when I actually find it more natural to say "remember those times when".
Since I am not a native English speaker I ...
2
votes
2
answers
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Does any grammar (book or theory) classify 'where' and 'when' as pronouns?
(1) A: Where are you from? B: I'm from the U.S.
(2) A: When do you leave? B: I leave a week from tomorrow/July 7th/this coming Sunday.
Traditional grammar classifies where and when in (1) and (2) as ...
2
votes
1
answer
67
views
Can I use "when" to replace "how often"?
Can I use when as a replacement for how often? Is it common to use when to ask about the frequency of an action?
ex: Question: When do you do the dishes?
Answer: Sometimes I do the dishes.
2
votes
2
answers
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"It will be the first time (that) I have flown to America." Is the "that"-clause a relative clause?
It will be the first time (that) I have flown to America.
The above example sentence is borrowed from this earlier post.
Depending on context, there can be other variations as follows:
It is the ...
2
votes
0
answers
43
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Shall I put that/when in this sentence? [closed]
For your safety, you will only be given access to lifts and runs that/when your instructor determines you are capable of skiing safely.
I was wondering if we put "that", which is a relative ...
2
votes
1
answer
1k
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Using "will" after "when" referring to the future [closed]
I'm going to send an email to a professor. There is a sentence that I think may be wrong because I'm not sure about using will after when, even though it obviously refers to the future.
But ...
1
vote
1
answer
555
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Do I need a comma after "when in (%time)"?
The company had just started to make money when in 1914 the World War put an end to its aspirations.
OR:
The company had just started to make money when in 1914, the World War put an end to its ...
1
vote
2
answers
3k
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"A dream where I was walking" vs. "a dream when I was walking"
I often find it hard to choose between "where" and "when". For instance:
One time, I had a dream when I was walking...
One time, I had a dream where I was walking...
Should I use when, ...
1
vote
1
answer
2k
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Usage of “when” or “while” in this context
He left the house _ I was still sleeping
Would this sentence be better completed with when or with while?
1
vote
2
answers
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When you come back / when do you come back / when are you coming back? [closed]
I'm confused about the right way to ask this question:
When you come back to London?
When do you come back to London?
When are you coming back to London?
Which one should I use?
1
vote
3
answers
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"When X is" or "When X will be"?
I always have a tough time with this. Suppose the following:
The software will be installed when the computer is ready.
versus
The software will be installed when the computer will be ready.
...
1
vote
1
answer
58k
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When using a comma before when [closed]
When is correct to use a comma before when? I have read many examples and still don't understand when it is correct to have a comma before.
1
vote
3
answers
145
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"When" + future perfect usage
A Scots friend of mine corrected my usage of future perfect in this construction:
Right, see you in five years when your mother tongue will have taken another ten steps back.
Maybe the construction ...
1
vote
2
answers
999
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In temporal/time clauses, can you use the present continuous after the connector "when"?
The sentence in question (on the test I composed) is:
Somehow, it seems to worry you when your parents _______ (grow) old.
I expected my students to use the present simple because the present simple ...
1
vote
1
answer
11k
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Usage of "even when"
In my understanding, a sentence of the following form
A requires B, something that may be difficult even when C
means that
A is difficult since a necessary condition B is difficult. While B ...
1
vote
1
answer
4k
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Are "when", "where" and "of" equally valid after "to include the case..."?
What are the rules for the usage of this construct?
For example, suppose you've written a StackExchange answer, and later you decided edit it so that your proposed solution handles an additional case....
1
vote
2
answers
5k
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Are the tense and syntax in this sentence correct? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Future tense usage: “When you see it …”
When he will arrive, he will call you.
Please let me know if the tense and syntax in this sentence are correct. ...
1
vote
1
answer
124
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"When travelling in Australia, guidance is advised." [closed]
Is the following sentence grammatically correct?
"When travelling in Australia, guidance is advised."
It seems to me the subject is not matching the verb, as if "guidance is travelling".
1
vote
1
answer
2k
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what is the correct use of "when vs If"?
Stop work and initiate emergency response when unplanned contact with a buried facility occurs. OR
Stop work and initiate emergency response if unplanned contact with a buried facility occurs.
1
vote
1
answer
908
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When to use double negatives in written English?
I have always been a little confused as to when to use double negatives when writing (I am unsure if this is what they are termed in English, it is the term used in Mathematics).
E.g. when to use:
...
1
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0
answers
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Which is the correct one? "When should we" or "When we should"? [closed]
I would like to know which of the following sentences is the correct one:
a) **When should we** use this or that?
or
b) **When we should** use this or that?
If both are correct, is there a different ...
1
vote
0
answers
212
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Using 'at the time of ' instead of the word 'when '
I will go when you come.
Can I use 'at the time of' instead of the word 'when', as follows?
I will go at the time of your coming.
After the change, Is there any difference in meaning?
1
vote
0
answers
2k
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"when": conjunction or adverb? [duplicate]
I have a question about the word when. I have read that it can be a conjunction or a relative adverb (either way, it joins two clauses together). Can I ask how do I differentiate between the two?
A ...
1
vote
2
answers
709
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Using "won't" in a "when" sentence
I'm confused about the use of "won't" in a "when" sentence, I've seen many sentences like:
What to do When Your Dog Won't Eat
is that right? or should it be:
What to do When Your Dog doesn't ...
0
votes
4
answers
10k
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Is "when" an adverb in this usage?
'When did you last see him?'
In the above sentence, is "when" an adverb? If so, what word is it modifying?
0
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2
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3k
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'I will miss everyone when/if I leave my job.' Can the sentence with 'if' and the one with 'when' really mean the same?
A course book for learners of English I have to use (New Total English, Intermediate, Student's Book, page 57) says:
'For First Conditionals, we use when rather than if to show that something is ...
0
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2
answers
676
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Which grammar rule (if any) applies to the phrase 'I like it when you smile.'
Why can we say 'I like it when you smile,' but not 'I like it how you talk, or 'I like it where you go.'?