"when.. have" or "after ..have" or "after...PRESENT VERB"?
- Thread starter cheshire
- Start date
3 is the best.
2 is the worst.
2 is the worst.
I agree with Sallyb.
I assume that you are asking to be told that the box has been sent out as soon as this happens.
Only (3) makes the connection really clear.
I assume that you are asking to be told that the box has been sent out as soon as this happens.
Only (3) makes the connection really clear.
Instance is the wrong word - period is better - time would be OK too.
I suspect that there is a "normal" way to say this and that other equally correct sentences sound strange. I also suspect that I am over-analysing these sentences, but that hasn't stopped me before so here we go.
Let's say that you are sending this message to Bill.
Bill is going to send (out) a box to someone, either you or someone else.
You are asking Bill to tell you that he has sent the box and when he sent it as soon as possible after he sends it. You could say:
Please let me know that you have sent the box and when you sent it as soon as possible after you send it.
But that is much too long-winded and repetitive for normal communications, so you rely on the construction of the sentence and your and Bill's experience of hearing these kind of requests in the past to communicate part of the message - in particular, the part in red.
(1) Please let me know after you've sent out the box.
(2) Please let me know after you send out the box.
The use of after in these sentences seems to place some distance between the time of sending out the box and the time of letting me know.
Also, they aren't clear about what it is you want Bill to tell you. Now we all know what you mean, but it could be clearer.
(3) Please let me know when you've sent out the box.
This time the combination of when and the past perfect form tells Bill that you want the telling to follow the sending very closely.
Also, the use of when says what it is you want to be told, you want to be told when Bill sent the box. When is serving two purposes here - an important point.
(4) Please let me know when you send the box.
The combination of when with the present form suggests that Bill should tell you something at the same time as he is sending the box. It's a bit like you are asking him to send you some information along with the box.
And finally, I would leave out out - sent the box, not sent out the box
Panjandrum, your analysis is always a great, great help!
What is the reason you've made "when you sent" a past instead of a perfect tense? Is it because what you want as an answer is "an exact time or date"? Just like "I was born in 1978" can't be "I have been born in 1978."?
Cheshire, I wish I knew the answer to that question.
I wondered when I wrote it, and I know that I did it deliberately, but I can't explain why. You could be right, though. It may have something to do with the "exact time or date" point.
I would agree with previous replies. (3) is the best. (2) the worst.
I would say that 3 or 4 are probably the best and make the most grammatical sense (though all four are grammatically correct I believe). I would be most inclined to say number 4.
I think number 1 is fine, and 2 makes perfect sense but is probably a more colloquial, informal way of saying it. I've heard all 4 versions of this sentence.
(Just my two cents as an American English speaker.)
I think number 1 is fine, and 2 makes perfect sense but is probably a more colloquial, informal way of saying it. I've heard all 4 versions of this sentence.
(Just my two cents as an American English speaker.)
I think it has.
I've lost my keys
I lost my keys yesterday
I've lost my keys yesterday
When (in when you sent it) is a time marker. It refers to a precise time.
Thank you everyone, all the problems with the tense are clear for now. I have only one question left. Why would it be preferrable to say "send the box" than "send out the box"?And finally, I would leave out out - sent the box, not sent out the box
I think it is preferable to omit the "out" simply because it is not necessary (unless, of course, there is a contrasting situation where someone "sends in" and others "send out").
But not all the uses of "send out" are the opposite of "send in." http://www.onelook.com/?w=send+out&ls=a
(5) The box was sent out.
(6) The box was sent.
(7) We send the box.
(8) We send out the box.
Which is good or bad?
(5) The box was sent out.
(6) The box was sent.
(7) We send the box.
(8) We send out the box.
Which is good or bad?
This is another of those deceptively simple questions that cause brain overload to native speakers. Well, to me anyway.
Send, without out, is normal usage when sending something to someone.
Send out suggests a different action, a different purpose. It is probably not sending something to a specific person. It could be something like a general broadcast of something.
Send, without out, is normal usage when sending something to someone.
Send out suggests a different action, a different purpose. It is probably not sending something to a specific person. It could be something like a general broadcast of something.