When + continuous or simple tense

Question

What comes after "when" the simple tense or continuous? Does it depend. I can't think of examples.

How about here, how do you write this?

1. He comes around to visit every few months. To run into him I'd have to be in the elevator when/while he's coming up./comes up. For me to be in that elvator; the chances are so small.

2. He arrived when I was leaving./He had arrived when I left.

Avangi · Accepted Answer

This can be very complicated. The use of various adverbs of time can affect how we use "when" and "while."

Generally speaking, "while" is found with the continuous and "when" is found with the simple.

She had already finished singing when I entered the room. (not "was entering")

After the banquet, the band continued playing while we cleared (were clearing) the tables.

It depends a lot on the type of action which the verb describes. Is it a brief event? Is it a prolonged event?

He usually slept when I drove (was driving) the car.

In this case it's not necessary to use the continuous, because "to drive the car" is already a continuous action.

He usually woke up when the alarm went off. We're treating the alarm as a brief event.

He usually woke up while the alarm was going off. We're treating the alarm as a prolonged event.

(Waking up is a brief event in both cases.)

"He had arrived when I left" is a problem. "He had arrived before I left" is okay.

"He was leaving when I came" would be okay.

You can use "when" to relate a short event to a long event: He arrived when the weather was beautiful.

Sorry, this is a bit disorganized.

- A.

Edit. I can't think of a case offhand in which "when" must be followed by the continuous.

Maybe this one:

He cut his chin when he shaved. (implies every time! - habitual - "when" = "whenever")

Edit. Well, it could refer to a particular time: He cut his chin when he shaved this morning.

(was shaving also works)

He cut his chin when he was shaving. (implies once, but could be "often" with context)

"While" also seems to require the continuous:

He cut his chin while he shaved. (doesn't seem natural)

He cut his chin while he was shaving.

Well, here's one which is completely forgiving:

She snores only when she sleeps.

She snores only when she is sleeping.

She snores only while she sleeps

She snores only while she is sleeping.

When + continuous or simple tense

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