Korean Job Discussion Forums

raewon · Joined: 16 Jun 2009

I've got another verb tense question. What is the correct way to complete the sentence below with "finish"? Are there two possibilities?

I'm going to play computer games when I ______ my chores.

1) finish
2) will finish
3) will have finished
4) have finished
5) had finished

Thanks.

lifeinkorea · Joined: 24 Jan 2009 Location: somewhere in China

Present shows routine, present perfect would indicate just one event. We often don't distinguish the two, so it could be both.

raewon · Joined: 16 Jun 2009

My first bump.

edwardcatflap · Joined: 22 Mar 2009

The answer is 1 and 4. This is a time clause similar to a conditional with 'when' in the other clause instead of 'if' . It's a real situation so the normal structure would be if/when + a present tense then some future form in the main clause - in this case 'going to'. Present perfect is a type of present tense so that is acceptable, along with simple present. The others are wrong

raewon · Joined: 16 Jun 2009

Thanks edwardcatflap!

Triban · Joined: 14 Jul 2009 Location: Suwon Station

1. and 4. is correct; I can't spout theory for it's defense, but I can tell which is right and which is wrong.

lifeinkorea · Joined: 24 Jan 2009 Location: somewhere in China

"I'm going to play computer games when I FINISH my chores." (EACH DAY)
"I'm going to play computer games when I HAVE FINISHED my chores." (ONLY TODAY)

edwardcatflap · Joined: 22 Mar 2009

I think you're getting confused with simple present for routine v present perfect for recently completed activities.

e.g. I finish my chores at 6pm (each day)

and I've finished my chores (it's just happened)

However

"I'm going to play computer games when I FINISH my chores." is not referring to a habitual action, it's referring to a future activity (playing computer games) that will be done at a later point (when I have finished my chores.

In fact the two correct sentences (1 and 4) have an identical meaning see my original explanation above

The Cosmic Hum · Joined: 09 May 2003 Location: Sonic Space

Edward is giving some good information here.
However, I think this statement needs just a bit of clarification.

wawawawonder · Joined: 30 Mar 2008

Good information above.

It's probably also worth pointing out that the traditional names for English tenses can be massively misleading, as in this case.

Yes, the present tense refers broadly speaking to the present time. However, in this case, it clearly refers to the future.

Why? I don't have a reason to give but my book describes these as"future time phrases", i.e. those introduced by words such as "until", "unless", "when", "as soon as". In all of these cases, there is an implicit future meaning but they must be followed by a present tense.

edwardcatflap · Joined: 22 Mar 2009

Yes, fair point Cosmic Hum, I wouldn't bother to teach it though.