when the rain began

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "when the rain began" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe the moment or time when it started to rain, often in storytelling or descriptive writing. Example: "We were enjoying our picnic when the rain began, forcing us to seek shelter under the trees."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

It had not by mid-afternoon, when the rain began letting up here.

The New York Times

It sounds a forward affair, and so it was, especially when the rain began to fall.

The Guardian - Sport

I was leaving my office in SoHo the evening of Aug. 1 when the rain began to pour down harder.

The New York Times

Those retaining walls, which were under construction when the rain began to fall earlier this month, have been washed away.

The New York Times

When the rain began this morning, the Cardinals were willing to wait as long as necessary to play.

The New York Times - Sports

Reliever Andrew Miller had taken the mound when the rain began to fall again and the game was delayed a second time.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

What really determines a company's long-term strength will be the way it copes when the rain begins.

The Economist

You could be fast asleep when the rain begins and the riverbed begins to fill.

WikiHow

When the rains began to fall again in 1996, municipalities scrambled to secure their quotas and set water restrictions on residents.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

We saw this emergency unfolding 9 months ago when the rains began to fail, the harvests were poor, and food and fuel prices shot up.

Huffington Post

We walked silently and contentedly down Park Street, but when we reached the bottom the rain began to come down sideways, and three minutes later I was soaked to the skin.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "when the rain began" to clearly mark a point in time within a narrative or descriptive context. It effectively sets the stage for subsequent events influenced by the rain.

Common error

Avoid shifting tenses after using "when the rain began". Ensure that the subsequent clauses maintain a consistent past tense to avoid grammatical errors. For example, instead of "When the rain began, everyone runs inside", use "When the rain began, everyone ran inside".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "when the rain began" functions primarily as a subordinate conjunction introducing a dependent clause that specifies the time or condition for the main clause. Ludwig AI provides numerous examples of this usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "when the rain began" functions as a temporal marker, setting the scene or providing context for events in narratives and descriptions. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across various sources, particularly in news and media. While the phrase is versatile, it is important to maintain tense consistency in subsequent clauses to avoid grammatical errors. Alternatives like "as the rain started" or "at the onset of rain" offer similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis. The phrase is considered neutral in formality and serves to effectively communicate the timing of events related to rainfall.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at the start of the rain

Focuses on the commencement of the rain, similar to the original phrase.

as the rain commenced

Uses a more formal verb, 'commenced', to describe the beginning of the rain.

once the rain started

Emphasizes the point in time when the rain became active.

the moment the rain began

Highlights the exact instant the rain started.

with the onset of rain

Uses a noun phrase to indicate the beginning of the rain.

as it started to rain

Describes the gradual start of the rainfall.

when the first raindrops fell

Focuses on the initial drops of rain, rather than the general start.

as the heavens opened

A more figurative way to describe the beginning of heavy rain.

the rain's arrival

Uses a noun phrase to indicate the coming of the rain.

when precipitation initiated

Employs a more scientific and formal tone.

FAQs

How can I use "when the rain began" in a sentence?

You can use "when the rain began" to introduce a clause that sets the context for an event. For example, "When the rain began, the picnic was ruined".

What are some alternatives to "when the rain began"?

Alternatives include phrases like "as the rain started", "at the onset of rain", or "once the rain started".

Is it correct to say "when the rain was beginning" instead of "when the rain began"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but they have slightly different nuances. "When the rain began" implies a specific point in time, while "when the rain was beginning" suggests a process or a gradual start.

What's the difference between "when the rain began" and "as the rain began"?

"When the rain began" pinpoints a specific moment, whereas "as the rain began" suggests a more gradual unfolding or a simultaneous action.