when he went away

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "when he went away" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a specific time or event in the past when someone left or departed. Example: "I felt a sense of loss when he went away for the summer."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

"But when he went away to boarding school, he started to come into his own".

The New York Times

"When he went away, I was at home with the kids struggling to pay bills," Ms. George said.

The New York Times - Science

He wrote his first song when he went away to Boy Scout camp with his guitar.

The New York Times

The French host recalled a weekend years before when he went away with an American family and was appalled by the kids' behavior.

The New York Times - Books

The Conway Stewart, about the pen his parents gave him when he went away to study, and how he writes "longhand / 'Dear' / To them, next day".

The Guardian - Books

For some reason he had a self-destruction button and that was the start of it when he went away with the Under-21s.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

("This cat is in love with him," a zookeeper once said. "Cries like a dame when he goes away").

The New Yorker

She tells him to keep it safe when he goes away, says that it's her luck added onto his.

The New Yorker

Now, he says proudly, he leaves Mr. Tibi blank signed checks when he goes away.

The New York Times

But that does not mean that he wants to run barefoot in the grass when he goes away in the summer.

The New York Times

Robby and Sarah have been dating for two years, and she is terrified of what will happen when he goes away to college.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "when he went away" to clearly indicate a specific point in time or a condition that occurred after someone's departure. This phrase works well in narrative contexts to set the scene or explain subsequent events.

Common error

Avoid using incorrect verb tenses that may confuse the sequence of events. For example, do not use "when he goes away" when referring to a past event; stick to the past tense, such as "when he went away."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "when he went away" functions as an adverbial clause of time, modifying the main clause by specifying when an event occurred. Ludwig AI provides examples illustrating its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Wiki

16%

Science

18%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "when he went away" is a grammatically sound adverbial clause used to denote a point in time following someone's departure. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides examples across various sources. The phrase is most frequently found in news and media, maintaining a neutral register. For alternatives, consider options like "after he left" or "upon his departure" to vary your phrasing. Be mindful of maintaining correct tense consistency when using this phrase. The phrase is considered uncommon with 10 examples.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

once he was gone

Highlights the state of being absent.

after he had left

Focuses on the completion of the act of leaving.

the day he left

Focuses specifically on the date of departure.

upon his departure

Formal alternative, emphasizing the act of leaving.

the moment he departed

Highlights the exact time of leaving.

following his absence

Emphasizes the period after he is no longer present.

as soon as he was out of sight

Emphasizes the immediate aftermath of his departure.

when he took off

More informal, suggesting a quick departure.

during his absence

Emphasizes the period of time he was not there.

on the occasion of his leaving

Very formal and specific to the event of departure.

FAQs

How can I use "when he went away" in a sentence?

You can use "when he went away" to describe something that happened after someone departed. For example, "I missed him terribly "when he went away" to college."

What are some alternatives to saying "when he went away"?

Some alternatives include "after he left", "upon his departure", or "once he was gone", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "when he goes away" instead of "when he went away"?

The correct tense depends on the time frame you are referring to. Use "when he goes away" to refer to a future event, and "when he went away" to refer to a past event.

What is the difference between "when he went away" and "while he was away"?

"When he went away" indicates a specific moment of departure, while "while he was away" refers to the entire period of his absence. For example, "When he went away, I felt sad," versus "While he was away, I redecorated his room."