when he came

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "when he came" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is used to indicate a specific point in time when something happened in the past. Example: "When he came home from work, he was greeted by his excited dog who had been eagerly waiting for him all day."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I know when he came".

Independent

Howard took over when he came.

The New Yorker

He was agitated when he came in.

Independent

But when he came closer, he grimaced.

The New York Times - Books

When he came up in 2005 — remember?

The New Yorker

We were really excited when he came".

The New Yorker

When he came round, Sannikov couldn't walk.

The Guardian

"I didn't expect that when he came.

Independent

I'll never forget when he came home.

The New York Times - Style

When he came back, though, Leary struggled.

The New York Times - Sports

Wigner: I met Dirac when he came to visit Princeton.

Princeton University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the context: Is a formal or informal alternative more appropriate for your audience?

Common error

Avoid shifting tenses within a sentence using "when he came". Ensure the main clause uses a tense that logically follows the past tense in the "when" clause. For example, instead of "When he came, I will leave", use "When he came, I left" or "When he came, I was leaving."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "when he came" functions as an adverbial clause of time, modifying the main clause of a sentence. It specifies the timing of an action or event in relation to someone's arrival. According to Ludwig AI, this construction is grammatically sound and widely accepted.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

24%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Academia

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "when he came" is a grammatically correct and versatile adverbial clause of time used to establish temporal context. According to Ludwig AI, its usage is widespread, spanning across various registers from neutral to professional. Its frequency is very common, primarily appearing in News & Media and Science sources. To enhance clarity, writers should ensure tense consistency within the sentence. Alternatives like "upon his arrival" can be considered for nuanced expression. Overall, "when he came" serves as a reliable tool for specifying the timing of events.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the moment he arrived

Emphasizes the specific point in time of arrival.

upon his arrival

Formal alternative, focusing on the moment of arrival.

after he got here

Informal alternative, specifying location.

as he appeared

Focuses on the act of becoming visible.

when he turned up

Informal, implies an element of surprise or unexpectedness.

on his coming

More archaic and formal way to express arrival.

following his entrance

Focuses on the act of entering a place.

the instant he showed up

Informal alternative, emphasizing the immediacy of his arrival.

subsequent to his arrival

Highlights the events following his arrival.

as soon as he was present

Formal and emphasizes his physical presence.

FAQs

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

Use "when he came" to establish a timeline of events. For instance, "When he came into the room, everyone stopped talking" indicates that the silence occurred after his arrival.

What are some alternatives to using "when he came"?

Alternatives include "upon his arrival", "the moment he arrived", or "after he arrived", each offering a slightly different nuance.

Is it more appropriate to use "when he came" or "after he came"?

"When he came" emphasizes the simultaneity of events, while "after he came" focuses on the sequence. Choose the one that best fits the relationship between the actions you're describing.

What's the difference between "when he came" and "when he had come"?

"When he came" uses the simple past, implying a single event. "When he had come" (past perfect) suggests that his arrival was completed before another past action. For example, "When he came, we ate dinner" vs. "When he had come, we discussed the plan".