Questions tagged [when]

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20 votes
5 answers
87k views

"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 ...
Dan Tao's user avatar
  • 1,560
9 votes
3 answers
41k views

"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, ...
Igor Turman's user avatar
8 votes
2 answers
16k views

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 ...
Err's user avatar
  • 191
6 votes
5 answers
103k views

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 ...
Phonics The Hedgehog's user avatar
6 votes
4 answers
19k views

"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?
Shayan's user avatar
  • 719
5 votes
4 answers
12k views

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 ...
Ines's user avatar
  • 51
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 ...
user avatar
5 votes
3 answers
28k views

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 ...
Bret 's user avatar
  • 59
5 votes
2 answers
19k views

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 ...
IGO's user avatar
  • 419
4 votes
2 answers
109k views

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, ...
Uberto's user avatar
  • 1,302
4 votes
3 answers
16k views

"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 ...
Melanchthon's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
7k views

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 ...
Kevin's user avatar
  • 141
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 ...
MickeyQ's user avatar
  • 31
3 votes
3 answers
6k views

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 ...
Naomi's user avatar
  • 578
3 votes
3 answers
4k views

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.
Vlad Balmos's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
2k views

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: ...
MD XF's user avatar
  • 145
3 votes
2 answers
198 views

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: ...
Best_Name's user avatar
3 votes
3 answers
9k views

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...
tom's user avatar
  • 203
3 votes
1 answer
3k views

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'...
lexeme's user avatar
  • 770
3 votes
1 answer
523 views

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 ...
Deborah Jeong's user avatar
2 votes
10 answers
625 views

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. "...
Conley Owens's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
22k views

"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 ...
language hacker's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
548 views

"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 ...
thorr18's user avatar
  • 433
2 votes
1 answer
6k views

"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 ...
edalorzo's user avatar
  • 123
2 votes
2 answers
241 views

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 ...
JK2's user avatar
  • 6,554
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.
Fabiana Francisco's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
2k views

"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 ...
JK2's user avatar
  • 6,554
2 votes
0 answers
43 views

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 ...
Stupidwart's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
1k views

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 ...
jack's user avatar
  • 25
1 vote
1 answer
555 views

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 ...
fiskjäveln's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
3k views

"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, ...
catandmouse's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
2k views

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?
Anon8889's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
143k views

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?
Ana Claudia's user avatar
1 vote
3 answers
3k views

"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. ...
MPelletier's user avatar
  • 1,056
1 vote
1 answer
58k views

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.
user1431148's user avatar
1 vote
3 answers
145 views

"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 ...
Titus Toia's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
999 views

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 ...
Babs's user avatar
  • 763
1 vote
1 answer
11k views

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 ...
pp35377's user avatar
  • 111
1 vote
1 answer
4k views

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....
Alexander's user avatar
  • 113
1 vote
2 answers
5k views

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. ...
user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
124 views

"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".
Chong Lip Phang's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
2k views

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.
Dwayne Mayr's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
908 views

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: ...
J J's user avatar
  • 317
1 vote
0 answers
1k views

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 ...
Jose Silva's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
212 views

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?
Muhammad Jahid's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
2k views

"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 ...
Leoz's user avatar
  • 11
1 vote
2 answers
709 views

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 ...
Luis Aguiar's user avatar
0 votes
4 answers
10k views

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?
Julian A.'s user avatar
  • 103
0 votes
2 answers
3k views

'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 ...
user58319's user avatar
  • 4,084
0 votes
2 answers
676 views

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.'?
Daniel's user avatar
  • 1