#1  
Old 03-Jul-2003, 11:49
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,318
Home Country: Iran
Native Language: Armenian
Current Location: France
Member Type: Academic
Default tenses

Which of these sentences is correct:
1-I'll be in England when you watch this film.
2-I'll be in England when you are watching this film.
Does 1 imply "when you have finished watching this film", or not necessarily?

(Let's say I have taped a film and then left for England and I have arranged for my friends to see the film when I am in England. I say the words on the film.)
  #2  
Old 03-Jul-2003, 22:58
RonBee's Avatar
Moderator
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 16,539
Home Country: United States
Native Language: American English
Current Location: United States
Member Type: Other
Default Re: tenses

Quote:
Which of these sentences is correct:
1-I'll be in England when you watch this film.
2-I'll be in England when you are watching this film.
Does 1 imply "when you have finished watching this film", or not necessarily?
I think the meaning is "while you are watching this film" (which is how I would write sentence 2).

Quote:
1-I'll be in England when you watch this film.
I'll be in England at the time that you watch this film.

Quote:
2-I'll be in England when you are watching this film.
At the time you are watching this film I will be in England.

or

When you watch this film I will be in England.

or

I'll be in England while you are watching this film.

Quote:
Does 1 imply "when you have finished watching this film", or not necessarily?
No. That (being finished) could be any time at all.

8)
  #3  
Old 04-Jul-2003, 22:10
Editor, UsingEnglish.com
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 34,371
Home Country: UK
Native Language: British English
Current Location: Philippines
Member Type: English Teacher
Default

No- it implies the act of vieing, but witgout regard to time. Maybe the person hasn't got round to watching it.
  #4  
Old 07-Jul-2003, 10:21
Senior Member
Threadstarter  
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,318
Home Country: Iran
Native Language: Armenian
Current Location: France
Member Type: Academic
Default Re: tenses

Thanks RonBee and TDOL.
Another question:
Doesn't this sentence:
"I'll be in England while you are watching this film."
give one the impression that I won't stay in England long after you have finished watching the film?
  #5  
Old 07-Jul-2003, 12:12
RonBee's Avatar
Moderator
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 16,539
Home Country: United States
Native Language: American English
Current Location: United States
Member Type: Other
Default Re: tenses

Quote:
Doesn't this sentence:
"I'll be in England while you are watching this film."
give one the impression that I won't stay in England long after you have finished watching the film?
It doesn't say anything about what is going to happen after the individual is finished viewing the film. If it leaves that impression it is not in the words.

8)
  #6  
Old 07-Jul-2003, 19:55
Editor, UsingEnglish.com
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 34,371
Home Country: UK
Native Language: British English
Current Location: Philippines
Member Type: English Teacher
Default

Not necessarily; it could if the context indicated it. Imahgine you have tickets for a film premiere next week and Ron's coming over to England for a fortnight. He could say that sentence and saty for a couple of weeks after you had finished watching the film.
Closed Thread

Bookmarks

Tags
tenses


Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
How many tenses are there in English language? Anonymous Ask a Teacher 19 07-Nov-2009 02:03
Future tenses or Future perfect tenses? Anonymous Ask a Teacher 9 06-Mar-2006 12:14
The Hidden Evidence: The Past Family shun Teaching English 143 09-Nov-2003 00:56
Tense of Tenses Piak General Language Discussions 3 07-Jun-2003 20:47
Tenses confuse me Anonymous Ask a Teacher 2 14-May-2003 22:19


All times are GMT. The time now is 21:05.



Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO ©2011, Crawlability, Inc.