when he arrives

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "when he arrives" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate a specific time or condition related to someone's arrival. Example: "We will start the meeting when he arrives."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

When he arrives, Dejima is a mess.

The New York Times - Books

Dutch consul's when he arrives there.

Princeton University

It is around midnight when he arrives.

The New York Times - Magazine

"When he arrives, come and get me.

The New York Times - Magazine

When he arrives, his chips are waiting for him.

The Economist

He would be killed when he arrives in Dhaka.

The Guardian

When he arrives, his wife and children are sleeping.

The New York Times - Magazine

When he arrives once more with the pudding menu it feels like too much attention.

Independent

Hardly has the ballet begun when he arrives, soon followed by the carcass of a tiger.

The New York Times - Arts

But when he arrives, he discovers that Kazakhstan is (surprise!) a wonderful country.

The New York Times

He is likely to face more anger when he arrives on Tuesday.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the context when choosing alternative phrases. While "when he arrives" is versatile, more formal or informal options might be appropriate depending on the audience and purpose of your writing.

Common error

Avoid using future tenses with "when he arrives" when referring to a future event. The 'when' clause should use the present tense, while the main clause describes the future action. For example, correct: 'We will start when he arrives.' Incorrect: 'We will start when he will arrive'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "when he arrives" functions as an adverbial clause of time, modifying the main clause in a sentence by specifying when an action or event takes place. As confirmed by Ludwig, it correctly establishes a temporal relationship.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

15%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "when he arrives" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrase used to establish a temporal relationship, indicating that an action or event will occur at the moment of someone's arrival. Ludwig confirms its correctness and wide applicability across various contexts. While it's suitable for both formal and informal communication, understanding its nuances and common errors, such as incorrect tense usage, is essential for effective writing. Consider related phrases like "upon his arrival" or "the moment he arrives" to add variety to your writing. With its frequent usage in news, media, and academic sources, mastering "when he arrives" will undoubtedly enhance your communication skills.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the moment he arrives

Adds a sense of immediacy and specificity to the arrival.

upon his arrival

Uses a prepositional phrase to indicate the time of arrival, offering a more formal tone.

at the time of his arrival

A formal and precise way to indicate the point of arrival.

following his arrival

Indicates a sequence of events after the arrival.

as he gets there

Emphasizes the process of getting to a location, slightly shifting the focus from the arrival itself.

as soon as he gets in

Implies immediacy and entry into a specific place.

once he's present

Highlights the state of being present, changing the emphasis from the action of arriving.

on his reaching there

Formal and emphasizes the action of reaching the destination.

when he makes it

More colloquial, focuses on completing the journey.

subsequent to his arrival

Highly formal, indicating something that follows the arrival.

FAQs

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

Use "when he arrives" to indicate that something will happen at the time of someone's arrival. For example, "The meeting will start "when he arrives"."

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

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

Is it correct to say "when he will arrive" instead of "when he arrives"?

No, it's generally incorrect to use the future tense ("will arrive") in the 'when' clause when referring to a future event. The correct usage is ""when he arrives"", using the present tense.

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

"When he arrives" implies that something happens at the same time as the arrival. "After he arrives" indicates that something happens subsequently to the arrival.