[Grammar] Tricky when

[Joern Matthias]

1. When my wife was pregnant, I landed a job at Harrods.

How could this sentence be understood since there is no progressive form of 'was pregnant'

Could it mean: A) While my wife was pregnant, I landed a job at Harrods.

B) After my wife was pregnant, I landed a job at Harrods

C) Meaning A) or B), depending on the context

What is the case if this sentence reads:

2) When I landed a job at Harrods, my wife was pregnant.

Could it mean: A) I landed a job at Harrods while my wife was pregnant

B) After I landed a job at Harrods, my wife was pregnant

C) Meaning A) or B), depending on the context.


Finally 3) When I was in Hamburg, my brother was in London.

Could it mean: A) While I was in Hamburg, my brother was in London

B) After I was in Hamburg, my brother was in London.

C) Meaning A) or B), depending on the context


A big hello from Bavaria

Joern

 

[Barb_D]

Hello Joern from Bavaria.

A person is pregnant for nine months, more or less. There is a progressive sense, even though we don't say "while she was being pregnant."

1. When my wife was pregnant, I landed a job at Harrods. -- At some point during her pregnancy, I got the job.

The problem with A is that it could mean that the person worked there only while she was pregnant. Although "landed" should be a momentary thing (he got the job), someone could read it as meaning that the duration of the job coincided with the pregnancy.
B is completely wrong.

2A - yes.
2B - no

3A -yes
3B - no

 

[Gillnetter]

1. When my wife was pregnant, I landed a job at Harrods.

How could this sentence be understood since there is no progressive form of 'was pregnant'

Could it mean: A) While my wife was pregnant, I landed a job at Harrods.
During the time of her pregnancy

B) After my wife was pregnant, I landed a job at Harrods
If your wife became pregnant on July 11th, anytime after July 11th to the date of the birth of the child would be considered the time that she was pregnant.

C) Meaning A) or B), depending on the context
B says that the sequence of events are as follows - wife becomes pregnant, job is found. The original text doesn't support that. The text says that during the time she was pregnant, I landed a job.

What is the case if this sentence reads:

2) When I landed a job at Harrods, my wife was pregnant.

Could it mean: A) I landed a job at Harrods while my wife was pregnant

B) After I landed a job at Harrods, my wife was pregnant
No. The text says that your wife was pregnant when you landed a job. It does not say that she became pregnant after you landed the job.

C) Meaning A) or B), depending on the context.


Finally 3) When I was in Hamburg, my brother was in London.

Could it mean: A) While I was in Hamburg, my brother was in London
Yes. Again, the meaning points to "during".
B) After I was in Hamburg, my brother was in London.
Where were you after you were in Hamburg? To make the sentence work the way you want it to, it would have to be written - After I arrived in Hamburg, my brother was in London.

C) Meaning A) or B), depending on the context


A big hello from Bavaria

Joern

Gil

 

[Joern Matthias]

Hello Barb_D,

Lots of thanks for your helpful answer.

Joern from Bavaria

 

[Joern Matthias]

Hello Gillnetter,

Your explanation has been very good and helpful.
Thank you very much!

Hello from Bavaria

Joern