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Park sang joon Posted 12 years ago
Grammar
A when clause I don't understand
In her newspaper column, "At Wit's End," Erma Bombeck replied as follows to an invitation from a California group:
"Yesterday, I received your colorful brochure and special invitation to be a guest at your nudist ranch. I hope you will understand when I tell you that I must decline, as I don't have anything not to to wear."
The interpretation of the underlined clauses looks like unnatural whether I treat 'when clause' as an adverbial clause or a noun clause.
How should I interpret the underlined clauses?
Thank you in advance for your help.
"Yesterday, I received your colorful brochure and special invitation to be a guest at your nudist ranch. I hope you will understand when I tell you that I must decline, as I don't have anything not to to wear."
The interpretation of the underlined clauses looks like unnatural whether I treat 'when clause' as an adverbial clause or a noun clause.
How should I interpret the underlined clauses?
Thank you in advance for your help.
Top answer
Is a label so important? If you must have a label, the 'when' clause seems to me to be an adverb clause of time. However, I don't guarantee my answer.
- Is a label so important?
- If you must have a label, the 'when' clause seems to me to be an adverb clause of time.
- However, I don't guarantee my answer.
- I gave up labelling clauses about fifty years ago.
- I didn't see the point it then.
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7 Answers
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Is a label so important?
If you must have a label, the 'when' clause seems to me to be an adverb clause of time. However, I don't guarantee my answer. I gave up labelling clauses about fifty years ago. I didn't see the point it then. I still don't,
If you must have a label, the 'when' clause seems to me to be an adverb clause of time. However, I don't guarantee my answer. I gave up labelling clauses about fifty years ago. I didn't see the point it then. I still don't,
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Thank you, fivejedjon, for your answer.
a) I hope you will understand at the time when I tell you that I must decline.
b) I hope you will understand if I tell you that I must decline. (but with much higher possibility than conditional one)
c) I hope you will understand even though I tell you that I must decline.
Did you mean 'a'?
By any chance, do
a) I hope you will understand at the time when I tell you that I must decline.
b) I hope you will understand if I tell you that I must decline. (but with much higher possibility than conditional one)
c) I hope you will understand even though I tell you that I must decline.
Did you mean 'a'?
By any chance, do
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Sorry, psj, but I haven't the stamina to get into another discussion about clauses in which words are added, omitted or changed.
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The word "when" seems to have its usual meaning.
http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/when
3 after or as soon as something happens:
When the meal was finished, Rachel washed up and made coffee.
I'll phone you again when I get home.
I hope [that] you wi
http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/when
3 after or as soon as something happens:
When the meal was finished, Rachel washed up and made coffee.
I'll phone you again when I get home.
I hope [that] you wi
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PSJ,
I notice that when volunteers gave you the answer, you seemed to either not completely understand, or not satisfied and therefore asked the same question disguised in a slightly different way. The 'when' clause you were asking about is a conjunction; much like a father telling his son: you should listen to me when I tell you not to ride the motorcycle in the rain. When -has
I notice that when volunteers gave you the answer, you seemed to either not completely understand, or not satisfied and therefore asked the same question disguised in a slightly different way. The 'when' clause you were asking about is a conjunction; much like a father telling his son: you should listen to me when I tell you not to ride the motorcycle in the rain. When -has
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