Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[hela]

Dear teachers,

Are both tenses here possible?

When he finishes / has finished his work, tell him I want to speak to him.

Could there be a difference in meaning between these 2 sentences?

a) When he finishes/has finished his work, tell him I want to speak to him.
(any time after he finishes his work ?)

b) Tell him I want to speak to him when he finishes/has finished his work.
(immediately after he finishes his work?)

Many thanks,
Hela

[myprofe]

Both of the sentences are correct. The difference, as you say, may be very small. The first "finishes" referring to the exact moment that this happens and the other "has finished" some time after this moment.
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I'm never going to learn if you don't correct my mistakes!

[hela]

Hello my profe,

Do you infer that with the simple present "when he finishes his work" the sentence means that I want to speak to him as soon as he is free, and with the present perfect "when he has finished his work" it means that I need to speak to him any time / some time after (but not necessarily immediately after) he is done with his work?

[myprofe]

Yes, you can say that. I think that "when he finishes" focuses more on the moment that this happens, that he is free while "when he has finished" focuses more on the completion of an action but all of this depends on the context.
_________________
I'm never going to learn if you don't correct my mistakes!

[hela]

I see, thank you very much indeed.
Have a nice day.
Hela