0
Viceidol Posted 19 years ago
Grammar
Can I say "I'm going to wait until John finishes his coffee."?
I saw a sentence in my grammar book. It says: I'm going to wait until John has finished his coffee.
Can it be rephrased in this way: "I'm going to wait until John finishes his coffee." ?
There are two sentences similar to this one, like: "I'm going to Rome when I have finished my Italian lessons.", "Let's welcome him when he comes home."
Can these two sentences be rephrased as "I'm going to Rome when I finish my Italian lessons." and "Let's welcome him when he has come home."?
Please! Please tell me what's the difference between those 2 sentences,and I would deeply appreciate it, because I've been very confused about it for some time.
Can it be rephrased in this way: "I'm going to wait until John finishes his coffee." ?
There are two sentences similar to this one, like: "I'm going to Rome when I have finished my Italian lessons.", "Let's welcome him when he comes home."
Can these two sentences be rephrased as "I'm going to Rome when I finish my Italian lessons." and "Let's welcome him when he has come home."?
Please! Please tell me what's the difference between those 2 sentences,and I would deeply appreciate it, because I've been very confused about it for some time.
Top answer
These are my thoughts. I'm going to wait until John has finished his coffee. Correct I'm going to wait until John finishes his coffee.
- These are my thoughts.
- I'm going to wait until John has finished his coffee.
- Correct I'm going to wait until John finishes his coffee.
- /I will go to Rome when I finish my Italian lessons.
- Let's welcome him when he comes/reaches home.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
9 Answers
0
These are my thoughts.
I'm going to wait until John has finished his coffee. Correct
I'm going to wait until John finishes his coffee. Correct
I am going to Rome after finishing my Italian lessons./I will go to Rome when I finish my Italian lessons.
Let's welcome him when he comes/
I'm going to wait until John has finished his coffee. Correct
I'm going to wait until John finishes his coffee. Correct
I am going to Rome after finishing my Italian lessons./I will go to Rome when I finish my Italian lessons.
Let's welcome him when he comes/
00
ViceidolI saw a sentence in my grammar book. It says: I'm going to wait until John has finished his coffee.
Can it be rephrased in this way: "I'm going to wait until John finishes his coffee." ? Yes
There are two sentences similar to this one, like:
00
0
Hey there, can I ask a related question?
Are the following both possible and ok? I like the second, but I wonder if the first is just as good. It is that "when you finish" that bothers me... because you do something after you finish, not when you finish... hmmm.
Tell me what you found when you finish searching, ok?
Tell me what you found when you have finished searching, ok?
Are the following both possible and ok? I like the second, but I wonder if the first is just as good. It is that "when you finish" that bothers me... because you do something after you finish, not when you finish... hmmm.
Tell me what you found when you finish searching, ok?
Tell me what you found when you have finished searching, ok?
00
Think of "when" in this sense as "upon this happening."
Tell me about your day when you finish cleaning that fish. (Because I can't be in the room with you while you do that.)
I will bake you some cookies when I finish the dishes from dinner.
Tell me about your day when you finish cleaning that fish. (Because I can't be in the room with you while you do that.)
I will bake you some cookies when I finish the dishes from dinner.
00
Hi Kooyeen
Both of those sentences are fine. In both cases, it is clear that tell will follow finish. Consider the use with the simple past tense:
He left when I arrived. = First I arrived, then he left. (The sentence suggests that "he left immediately on my arrival".)
EDIT:
Hi Barb.
Both of those sentences are fine. In both cases, it is clear that tell will follow finish. Consider the use with the simple past tense:
He left when I arrived. = First I arrived, then he left. (The sentence suggests that "he left immediately on my arrival".)
EDIT:
Hi Barb.
00
Ok, thanks. I think it's the verb "finish" that allows that. That is, "when you finish" = "after you finish", but "when you check your mail" is not equal to "after you check you mail".
Tell me what she told you when you've checked your mail.
Tell me what she told you when you check your mail.
Those two are not the same. Ok then, thanks again for *clearing my weird doubts
Tell me what she told you when you've checked your mail.
Tell me what she told you when you check your mail.
Those two are not the same. Ok then, thanks again for *clearing my weird doubts
00
Hi Kooyeen
You're right that the meaning of a verb also plays a role:
In this sentence, it would be better to use 'after' (rather than 'when'):
Tell me what she told you after you check your mail.
You're right that the meaning of a verb also plays a role:
In this sentence, it would be better to use 'after' (rather than 'when'):
Tell me what she told you after you check your mail.
00
Related Questions