When Clauses - Time Relationships Involving Events

B1 Eiken 2 Intermediate

when + clause, clause

Explanation

Use a "when" clause to show the time of another event. The two parts can come before or after each other. In future meaning, the "when" clause uses the present simple, not "will".

For example, "When I get home, I will call you." Here, "when" joins the two events, "I get home" shows the time, and "I will call you" is the main action. Japanese often uses "〜したら" or "〜するとき" for this idea, but English changes the verb form in the time clause.

Examples

  • When I wake up, I drink some coffee. 目が覚めたら、コーヒーを飲む。
  • When the bell rings, the students sit down. チャイムが鳴ると、学生たちは座ります。
  • When you get home, please text me. 家に着いたら、メッセージをください。
  • What do you do when it rains? 雨の日は何をしますか。
  • When I got there, the shop was closed. そこに着いたとき、お店は閉まっていました。
  • We don't eat when we are working. 仕事中は食べません。

Common Mistakes

Japanese learners often say "When I will get home, I will call you." In English, do not use "will" in the "when" clause for future time. Say "When I get home, I will call you." The same rule applies in similar time clauses, such as "before" and "after".

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