Hello all of my teachers. I have some lines to look over.
I will do the shopping when I have finished cleaning the flat.
I will do the shopping when I finish cleaning/clean the flat.
Which is correct and why. Kindly provide some easy rule with this regard to remember.
Thank you
Both are okay.
In your second sentence you must say ‘finish cleaning’ and not ‘finish clean’. Both sentences refer to your intention to do the shopping and using ‘have finished’ confirms the idea that you will do the shopping only when you have completed the cleaning. The use of the present tense simply describes what follows after the cleaning.
[color=red]Which is correct and why. Kindly provide some easy rule with this regard to remember.
Thank you
[/quote]
Your sentences:
[color=red]I will do the shopping when I have finished cleaning the flat.
[color=red]I will do the shopping when I finish clean the flat.
The full sentences would be:
[color=indigo]I will do the shopping when I have finished (the) cleaning (of) the flat.
I will do the shopping when I finish (the) clean (of) the flat.
‘clean’ can be a verb, an adjective, and an adverb.
The verb in the clause is ‘have finished’, or ‘finish’ - so ‘clean’ can’t be a verb.
It can’t be an adverb, because the adverb would modify the verb, and ‘clean’ is referring to the flat, not the verb ‘to finish’.
‘clean’ can’t be an adjective, because it comes before an article -‘clean the flat’ - and adjectives come before a noun or as one of two or three adjectives before a noun.
So, no. It has to be a noun, the gerund ‘cleaning’.
Can you understand that in both sentences, ‘cleaning’ is a gerund, a verbal noun.?
[color=indigo]I will do the shopping when I have finished cleaning the flat.
[color=indigo]I will do the shopping when I finish cleaning the flat.
I’ll do the difference in the tenses a little later.
What exactly is your point? Muzafar1 is interested in the difference between ‘finish’ and ‘have finished’, isn’t he?
…and say nothing about the clean/cleaning difference?
I have contributed because:
[color=red]…and using ‘have finished’ confirms the idea that you will do the shopping only when you have completed the cleaning.
And so does,[color=indigo] “I will do the shopping when I finish cleaning the flat.” !!
You haven’t explained the difference!
[color=indigo]The use of the present tense simply describes what follows after the cleaning.
No - “I will do the shopping…” describes “what follows after the cleaning”.
My point was to be more helpful to Mulkzafar! than Beeesneees’ perfunctory reply; and to correct your errors, and explain the difference in meaning in more detail.
But, as Moderator, you appear to be implying your reply was sufficient.
I am not implying anything. I was commenting on your convoluted description of ‘clean’ in place of ‘cleaning’. I await your explanation of the tenses.
Hi Alan,
Is it natural to say “I will do the shopping when I finish (the) clean (of) the flat”, as was suggested above?
Thanks!
The present ‘finish’ is fine but that verb needs to be followed by the gerund - finish cleaning.
My point is regarding “ing” and “to” as following
They denied stealing the money
I enjoy going out.
Can’t we say
They denied to steal…
I enjoy to go…
They decided to steal the money
I want to go out.
Can’t we say
They decide stealing…
I want going out.
What is the general rule for each type of sentenced. I am so confused please provide some general explanation.
English is full of exceptions and it often looks mysterious with usages. Do not ask me why. You have to willingly suspend your disbelief/doubt. Nevertheless, it is a beautiful language, and is globally used.
Now, please just note that there are certain verbs in English, which accept either a gerund or an infinitive. There are verbs which accept only a gerund or only an infinitive.
[b]They denied stealing the money. (Acceptable)
I enjoy going out. (Acceptable)
They denied to steal… (No)
I enjoy to go… (No)
They decided to steal the money. (Acceptable)
I want to go out. (Acceptable)
They decide stealing… (No)
I want going out. (No)[/b]
I don’t think there is any general rule in this regard. You need to familiarize yourself with the usage in vogue. This is my personal view.
‘They decide stealing’ is possible in a present narrative:
They decvide (that) stealing the money is a bad idea.
Hi,
The example:
is an entirely different kettle of fish. In that sentence ‘stealing’ is not dependent on the verb ‘decide’. This
is a noun clause and an object of ‘decide’.
Alan
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Yes, you said it, Alan.
It’s possible though.