0
Whatchadoin Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Tenses after "when"
I do it when she's cooking.
I do it when she cooks.
Do these both mean the same?
I do it when she cooks.
Do these both mean the same?
Top answer
Simple Present tense is generally used in clauses of time and condition when the reference is to present indefinite or future. Since the reference is to time in general simple present sounds better to me.
- Simple Present tense is generally used in clauses of time and condition when the reference is to present indefinite or future.
- Since the reference is to time in general simple present sounds better to me.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
2 Answers
0
Simple Present tense is generally used in clauses of time and condition when the reference is to present indefinite or future.
Since the reference is to time in general simple present sounds better to me.
Since the reference is to time in general simple present sounds better to me.
00
My take: if I brush my hair when she is cooking, I am brushing my hair at the exact same time as she is cooking. If I brush my hair when she cooks, maybe I brush my hair before, during or after her cooking. The two things are related, and some interpretations are definitely more likely than others, but in my opinion the time lines involved are not as clear as with the first example.
0
Related Questions