Questions tagged [when]

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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
1 vote
3 answers
136 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
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0 answers
43 views

Present subordinate clause using "when" followed by a main clause in the past

Recently, I've listened to this version (on YouTube) of Led Zeppelin's song When the Levee Breaks. In this part of the song this guy sings "when the levee breaks, I had no place to stay", ...
Gabriel Caldas's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
39 views

Can relative adverb "when" also be used to indicate condition?

As far as I know, I can't use the word "If" to make a relation between noun and clause such as *The threshold if X occurs is 40 products at a time. The right form of it would be If X ...
Mint Bee's user avatar
  • 142
-1 votes
1 answer
33 views

Is it correct to use where in a sentence like this? [duplicate]

I don't want you to do things where you put your hand on the back of my head. I saw this use of where and wondering is it right use or "when" should use in stead of where.
mubir's user avatar
  • 107
2 votes
0 answers
40 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
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
0 votes
2 answers
177 views

WHEN + PAST PARTICIPLE

I am struggling a little with a question I received from one of my Russian students today. She doesn't understand the sense of : You can go to the country break when you have passed your last ...
Lorraine 's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
219 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
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0 votes
0 answers
46 views

"would" and "will" after "when" for generalization

I need help, a second eye to proofread the following: "This method precludes an instance when the user has/will have their device broken." AND: "This method precluded an instance when the user had/...
Lux's user avatar
  • 21
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0 answers
17 views

Why is "when clause" past?

"She said she would wait for me to return safely," he said, "and go to the frontline again with me when she recovered." Do you know why "when clause" is past? My understanding is that it should be ...
Taehyun You's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
643 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
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0 votes
2 answers
355 views

Regarding "when" is a preposition

I was in a text exchange with a friend from Mexico. English is his second language. He deigned to correct something I, whose English is my first language, texted... "When you, me, Tony, and Gabi met ...
Ford Prefect's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
195 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
0 votes
1 answer
83 views

"When" clause in second conditional

I would like to ask you for clarification, if the usage of the when clause is correct in the second conditional. In one book I found the sentence: When the factory came online in 1990, he would ...
VilemRousi's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
351 views

How to choose between "where" and "when" after the expression "There hasn't been a moment...."? [duplicate]

There hasn't been a moment where/when science has ceased to amaze me. What do I choose? I have also seen use of "that" in some cases: There hasn't been a time that I haven't loved you.
Moon Child's user avatar
0 votes
3 answers
322 views

What tense to use with when along with past perfect

Consider this sentence: He had felt this pain earlier, when he drew the bow. My intuition would be that the sentence is incorrect, and that the correct form is: He had felt this pain earlier, when ...
Eternal's user avatar
  • 109
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1 answer
426 views

Is "I got lost trying to find" correct?

I read this paragraph: - Why didn't you come to Alex's house last night? We were all expecting to see you there. + Oh, I'm sorry about that. I got lost trying to find Alex's house. Which one is ...
Hajitsu's user avatar
  • 103
1 vote
2 answers
708 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
3 votes
1 answer
518 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
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
0 votes
1 answer
40 views

Sequence of tenses in "When they do X, they do Y" structure

I got corrected when I said: When people heard the term "accounting graduate", they usually say "Do you work at a bank?". I was told to use "hear" instead of "heard". In this situation, why is "...
Rob's user avatar
  • 3
-2 votes
1 answer
56 views

Using Be or Being for initial word [closed]

I don't know which word is right for this sentence: Be at the airport by 4 o'clock to meet him when his flight lands. or Being at the airport by 4 o'clock to meet him when his flight lands. ...
Kaiii's user avatar
  • 1
3 votes
2 answers
182 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
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
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
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
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
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
0 votes
1 answer
1k views

When should "dough" be used?

I've heard in many movies/songs, specially in American English, that they add to the end of sentences the word "dough". For instance: I won´t play today dough Could anyone give me a hint - what ...
Jorge Brage's user avatar
-1 votes
2 answers
106 views

Do I need to use a comma in this sentence? [closed]

Which one is correct: When you see the image, scan it with the app. or When you see the image scan it with the app. (no comma)
Kirill's user avatar
  • 17
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
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
  • 4,052
0 votes
2 answers
6k views

Is it When or where in this sentence? [duplicate]

We all have a moment in our life where something happens and that change the course of our life.
Deven's user avatar
  • 9
0 votes
2 answers
7k views

Is this "When doing something" sentence correct?

I was wondering if this sentence is okay: The algorithm is inspired by the indirect local communication among the individuals of a population of ants when (they are) searching for food ...
Víctor Martínez's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
686 views

What's the difference between when, as, and while? [closed]

I think choices 1, 2, and 3 are correct. Is there any difference? I saw a boy.........I was driving. 1)when     2)as      3)while   4)since Thanks
Morteza's user avatar
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
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
  • 709
0 votes
2 answers
379 views

Comma usage: Sentence starting with "But", sentential adverb, and followed by "when"

I have a sentence structured as follows in a scientific text. But, in particular, when doing A, the system cannot do B. I think all commas are formally required. However, for "But" in particular, ...
Juve's user avatar
  • 129
0 votes
1 answer
2k views

How to change this to passive: No one knows when he has come into the room?

How can I change this sentence to a passive one? No one knows when he has come into the room. I feel it is probably wrong to say When he has come into the room is not known by anybody. (wrong) ...
zell's user avatar
  • 189
2 votes
1 answer
546 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
  • 416
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
0 votes
1 answer
227 views

What grammar rules are violated by "when you" statements?

For the past couple of years there has been a trend on twitter and facebook to post statuses with incomplete "when you" statements. These statements are intended to imply some unstated, but obvious ...
trex005's user avatar
  • 125
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
5 votes
2 answers
18k 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
0 votes
1 answer
599 views

past perfect tense with when

"He had left the house when we arrived." I feel it is most certainly wrong, but I figured it's safer to ask the community here. To me it feels like it should be "He had already left the house when ...
Revlis Lain'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
0 votes
3 answers
709 views

Can I use "when" to start a sentence with the past progressive?

My class is working on the past progressive and the simple past, and I was wondering if I can use when instead of while for the following sentence While I was eating, the bell rang. When I was ...
user109255's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
996 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
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