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Vsuresh Posted 11 years ago
Grammar
placement of when
Hi
Please help me with this sentence
The mother entered the room when the children were playing video games.
Will the meaning be the same if when is placed in the beginning?
Please help me with this sentence
The mother entered the room when the children were playing video games.
Will the meaning be the same if when is placed in the beginning?
Top answer
Is this what you mean? When the children were playing video games, the mother entered the room. It is odd to me.
- Is this what you mean?
- When the children were playing video games, the mother entered the room.
- It is odd to me.
- It sounds like the mother waited to catch the children playing their games when the were supposed to be doing their schoolwork.
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5 Answers
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Is this what you mean?
When the children were playing video games, the mother entered the room.
It is odd to me. It sounds like the mother waited to catch the children playing their games when the were supposed to be doing their schoolwork.
When the children were playing video games, the mother entered the room.
It is odd to me. It sounds like the mother waited to catch the children playing their games when the were supposed to be doing their schoolwork.
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Thank you, Alphecca Stars.
I mean this:
When the mother entered the room the children were playing the video games.
I mean this:
When the mother entered the room the children were playing the video games.
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Yes, adding the comma: "When the mother entered the room, the children were playing (the) video games."
(the) might not be necessary, unless distinguishing these games from some others.
Also, "While the children were playing video games, the mother entered the room." This also works, with "while".
(the) might not be necessary, unless distinguishing these games from some others.
Also, "While the children were playing video games, the mother entered the room." This also works, with "while".
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vsureshWhen the mother entered the room the children were playing the video games.That's fine. I like it better. It has the same meaning as the original sentence.
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