English Language Learners Asked by Htin Aung Linn on November 17, 2021
I couldn’t help but stare at him every time when no one’s around
Or
I couldn’t help but stare at him every time no one’s around
Which is correct?
The construction every time when... is not idiomatic. No examples of it can be found on Google Books Ngram Viewer.
Every time can either be followed by that or by the clause that follows without that. For example:
Every time that he comes here, he brings flowers
or
Every time he comes here, he brings flowers.
The construction no one's is likely to be understood as no one is although it might possibly be interpreted in some contexts as no one was or no one has.
So you need to phrase your sentences either in the present tense as:
I can't help but stare at him every time (that) no one's [is] around.
or, in the past tense as:
I couldn't help but stare at him every time (that) no one was around.
https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=everry+time+when%2Cevery+time+tha
Answered by Ronald Sole on November 17, 2021
These both sound wrong; "no one's" is a contraction for "no one is", but we would want "no one was" there, instead.
That being said, the second one is better because the "when" is redundant - we already have said "time", so saying "when" is repeating ourselves a bit.
Also I would prefer "any" to "every", but the differences are subtle. Also, "anytime we were alone" is worth considering.
Answered by Justin Stafford on November 17, 2021
They are both correct.
The second form is a bit better, because it is shorter.
The meaning of both is exactly the same.
Answered by virolino on November 17, 2021
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