when he arrived

USAGE SUMMARY

"when he arrived" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is commonly used as a dependent clause to indicate the specific point in time when an event occurred. Example: When he arrived at the party, he was surprised to see so many old friends from high school.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Great God!" Scott wrote when he arrived.

The New York Times - Arts

When he arrived, he barely spoke English.

The New York Times

It was parlous when he arrived.

The New York Times - Sports

When he arrived, he was refused entry.

The Washington Post

He was an infant when he arrived.

The New York Times

Graham found out when he arrived.

The New Yorker

He seemed irritated when he arrived.

The New York Times

When he arrived everything seemed in order.

The Guardian - Books

He was dead when he arrived.

The Guardian

When he arrived, his appearance shocked Rachel.

The New Yorker

"I didn't have any expectations of him when he arrived.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Vary your sentence structure by occasionally using alternatives like "upon his arrival" or "the moment he arrived" to avoid repetition and maintain reader engagement.

Common error

Avoid using the future tense in the main clause when using "when he arrived". For example, instead of "When he arrived, he will be happy", use "When he arrived, he was happy" or "When he arrives, he will be happy" depending on the intended time frame.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "when he arrived" functions as an adverbial clause of time, modifying the main clause by indicating when the action in the main clause occurred. Ludwig contains several examples demonstrating this, such as "When he arrived, he was refused entry."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Science

2%

Wiki

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "when he arrived" is a very common and grammatically correct phrase used to introduce an adverbial clause of time. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides numerous examples of its usage in various contexts, primarily in News & Media. While the phrase is versatile and can be used in both formal and informal settings, it's essential to ensure the correct tense usage in the main clause. Consider using alternatives like "upon his arrival" or "the moment he arrived" for stylistic variation. Remember that while Ludwig provides many examples for "when he arrived", understanding the slight differences between alternatives is key to better writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the moment he arrived

Emphasizes the immediacy of the arrival.

upon his arrival

Replaces the clause with a prepositional phrase, making it more concise.

once he was there

Highlights the state of being present after arriving.

as he got there

Uses simpler vocabulary to convey the same meaning.

after he came

Simple and direct, focusing on the action of coming.

as soon as he got in

Implies immediacy and entry into a place.

on reaching the destination

More formal and emphasizes the completion of the journey.

at the time of his arrival

More formal and emphasizes the specific time.

following his coming

A bit more literary and formal, emphasizing the sequence of events.

subsequent to his arrival

A very formal and less common way to express the timing.

FAQs

How can I use "when he arrived" in a sentence?

You can use "when he arrived" to introduce a clause that specifies the timing of an event. For example, "When he arrived, the meeting had already begun."

What can I say instead of "when he arrived"?

You can use alternatives like "upon his arrival", "the moment he arrived", or "as soon as he arrived" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "when he had arrived" instead of "when he arrived"?

Yes, both are grammatically correct, but they imply different meanings. "When he arrived" refers to a specific point in time. "When he had arrived" implies that his arrival was completed before another action took place. For example: "When he arrived, we greeted him" vs "When he had arrived, he called to let us know he was safe".

What's the difference between "when he arrived" and "after he arrived"?

"When he arrived" pinpoints the exact moment of arrival, while "after he arrived" indicates a period following his arrival. The first stresses the moment of arrival and the latter emphasizes the time that follows.