About when and what time

Question

I'm a bit confused with the meanings of the sentences below.
Could you help me??

1) Tell me when he is back.

This sentence means that when he is back, let me know, right?

But is it bossible to mean that "2) Do you know when he will be back?" ?

Actually, I'm not very confident of whether to use "will" in the when clause in 2). But in my gramatical understanding, I should use "will".

So, if 1) means 2), 1) should be like:
3)Tell me when he will be back.

Or

4) Tell me what time he will be back.

Is my understanding correct??

Thank you in advance!

RandomGuy · Accepted Answer

H M1) Tell me when he is back.
This sentence means that when he is back, let me know, right?

Yes.

H MBut is it possible to mean that "2) Do you know when he will be back?"?

No.

H M3)Tell me when he will be back.
Or
4) Tell me what time he will be back.

Those have the same meaning.

H M · Answer

Thanks a lot for your reply!

So, these two sentences below have the different meanings, right?

1) Tell me when he is back.

3)Tell me when he will be back.

I just want to make sure that my understanding is ringt.

Thank you!

RandomGuy · Answer

H MSo, these two sentences below have different meanings, right?

Yes.

Tell me when he is back. = When he returns, let me know of his return.
Tell me when he will be back. = Tell me what time he is expected to return.

H M · Answer

Thank you very much for your quick reply!!!
I used to get confused with whether to use "will", but now it seems clear!

Thanks again!

H M · Answer

And thanks a lot for the correction of my using articles.
When and how to use articles is not still very clear to me...
Hmm...anyway, I have to get used to it.

Thanks!

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