ctivnan
11/28/07, 07:37 AM
A 'When Clause' is a time clause. It talks about which action happen first in the sentence. We can use the 'When Clause' in: past, present, and future.
PAST
'When' can be used in two ways:
- to indicate the order of action; the action in the 'when clause' happened first.
e.g.
When they discovered that the books were lost, they immediately looked for them.
(1st: they discovered, and then they looked for the books.)
- to indicate an interruption in a past progressive activity.
e.g.
I was walking across the street when a lady bumped me.
(You were walking and it was interrupted when a lady bumped you.)
PRESENT
- to indicate habitual activities in order of action.
e.g.
When Tom cries his lungs out, the nanny panics.
(1st Tom cries and the nanny panics.)
The street becomes noisy when the tricylces pass.
(1st tricycles pass and the streets become noisy)
FUTURE
- to indicate that one action will be finished before another one begins.
e.g.
When the attacks strike, I will definitely be very far.
(1st I will be far, and then the attacks happen.)
When SARS virus arises again, the health department will have found a cure.
(1st there will be a cure available at the time SARS virus arises)
PAST
'When' can be used in two ways:
- to indicate the order of action; the action in the 'when clause' happened first.
e.g.
When they discovered that the books were lost, they immediately looked for them.
(1st: they discovered, and then they looked for the books.)
- to indicate an interruption in a past progressive activity.
e.g.
I was walking across the street when a lady bumped me.
(You were walking and it was interrupted when a lady bumped you.)
PRESENT
- to indicate habitual activities in order of action.
e.g.
When Tom cries his lungs out, the nanny panics.
(1st Tom cries and the nanny panics.)
The street becomes noisy when the tricylces pass.
(1st tricycles pass and the streets become noisy)
FUTURE
- to indicate that one action will be finished before another one begins.
e.g.
When the attacks strike, I will definitely be very far.
(1st I will be far, and then the attacks happen.)
When SARS virus arises again, the health department will have found a cure.
(1st there will be a cure available at the time SARS virus arises)