in the summer, when

[navi tasan]

a. I will send the book to you in the summer, when you have some free time.
b. I will send the book to you in the summer when you have some free time.

c. I will send the book to you in the summer, when you will have some free time.
d. I will send the book to you in the summer when you will have some free time.

Does the comma change anything in any way?
Does the change in tense change the meaning in any way?

It seems to me that there are two possibilities.

1. In the summer you will have some free time. I will send the book to you in the summer.

2. I will send the book to you in the summer and in a period of the summer when you have some free time.

In my opinion (a) and (c) mean (1), (b) means (2), and (d) is wrong!

I am not sure that people are consistent when using such sentences.

 

[Barque]

Are you saying you'll send the book in the summer because the other person will have time to read it only then?

I'll send you the book in the summer, when you'll have time to read it.

 

[Barque]

t seems to me that there are two possibilities.

1. In the summer you will have some free time. I will send the book to you in the summer.

2. I will send the book to you in the summer and in a period of the summer when you have some free time.

I think you may be reading too much into it.

All your four sentences are grammatical. But sentences a and b aren't the correct way to express your intended meaning. Sentences c and d are ok but they can be shortened the way I did in #2. But they'd all be understood as meaning you'll send him the book at a time when he's free.

 

[jutfrank]

In my opinion (a) and (c) mean (1), (b) means (2), and (d) is wrong!

Hm. Okay, I'll go with that.