when they got there

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "when they got there" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a specific moment in time when a group of people arrived at a location. Example: "When they got there, they realized they had forgotten the tickets."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

40 human-written examples

It was closed when they got there.

The New Yorker

But when they got there, there was hell to pay.

Yale University

But when they got there too many of them got in and the doors wouldn't close.

The Guardian

When they got there, the girl and her abductor were gone, investigators said.

The New York Times

He has heard the stories about what they found when they got there.

The New York Times

None were told who to look for when they arrived, and were instead approached when they got there.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

19 human-written examples

He isn't sure when they got there — probably Tuesday evening.

The New Yorker

When they got there the paramedics were apologetic.

The Guardian

When they got there, each man was issued a bugle.

The New Yorker

What happened when they got there remains a matter of sharp dispute.

The New Yorker

When they got there, a tsunami alert sounded.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "when they got there" to clearly indicate the sequence of events, emphasizing what happened immediately after the group arrived. This helps in creating a narrative flow.

Common error

Avoid using "when they got there" if the subsequent action didn't directly follow their arrival. Ensure that the arrival and the event described are closely linked in time.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "when they got there" functions as an adverbial clause of time, modifying the main clause by specifying when the action in the main clause occurred. It introduces a temporal context, indicating that something happened immediately after their arrival. Ludwig confirms its correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Academia

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "when they got there" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that acts as an adverbial clause of time. Its primary function is to set a temporal context, indicating an event that occurred following a group's arrival. As Ludwig confirms, the phrase is correct and suitable for various contexts, maintaining a neutral register that suits news reports, academic papers, and casual conversations. While alternatives like "upon their arrival" exist, "when they got there" provides a clear and easily understood way to sequence events. The phrase's prevalence in news and media sources indicates its widespread acceptance and utility in conveying information concisely.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

when they arrived

Slightly more concise and direct synonym.

upon their arrival

Formal alternative using a prepositional phrase to indicate arrival.

once they were there

Rephrasing using "once" to indicate a point in time after arrival.

on reaching the destination

Formal alternative emphasizing the completion of the journey.

on getting to the location

Uses "getting to" to emphasize the act of reaching the destination.

at their destination

Focuses on the location after arrival.

as soon as they made it there

Emphasizes the immediacy after arrival.

after getting to that place

More descriptive and less formal alternative.

when they made it to the location

Emphasizes the effort required to get to the destination.

at the point of arrival

Formal and emphasizes a specific time.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "when they got there"?

You can use alternatives like "upon their arrival", "when they arrived", or "on reaching the destination" depending on the context.

Is "when they got there" grammatically correct?

Yes, "when they got there" is grammatically correct and commonly used in written and spoken English to describe events that occurred after a group's arrival.

How to use "when they got there" in a sentence?

You can use "when they got there" to introduce a clause that describes what happened after a group arrived at a location. For example, "When they got there, the party had already started."

What's the difference between "when they got there" and "when they arrived"?

While both phrases are similar, "when they arrived" is a more formal and concise alternative to "when they got there". The choice depends on the desired tone and context of your writing.