"when" and present perfect

Question

Hello! Could you help me, please? Can we use Present Perfect if there is the word "when" in the sentence? As far as I know we can't if it's a question, e.x. we can't say "When have you come?", can we? But as for an affirmative sentence, I'm not sure. For example, can we say "When we have come we will watch TV."? Thank you!

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

Maria DCan we use Present Perfect if there is the word "when" in the sentence? As far as I know we can't if it's a question ...

You can use 'when' in a question, particularly with 'ever', but not so much without 'ever' because 'when' suggests a definite time, which is not permitted with the present perfect. The 'ever' tends to cancel the suggestion of a definite time.

These questions are often rhetorical, expecting the unstated reply, "Never".

When have you ever seen such ridiculous behavior?
When has anyone ever done so well as that?
When have I ever claimed that?

("When have you come?" doesn't work for the reasons explained above.)
_________________

You can also use 'when' in the affirmative, as an alternative to the present, thus:

When everyone has arrived, our guest speaker will begin her lecture.
When we have finished the work, we go out and eat at a nice restaurant.
Professor Stevens will let us know when he has found a solution to that difficult problem.

The verb in the 'when' clause is usually a verb that indicates an action that happens more or less instantaneously.

"When we have come we will watch TV" is not completely idiomatic. I recommend changing it, thus:

When everyone has arrived, we will watch TV.

CJ

Maria D · Answer

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"when" and present perfect

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