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When vs If and asking in questions

English Language & Usage Asked on February 25, 2021

"I don’t know when I am going to see him again."

Does saying "when" imply that you are certain (assuming) you will see him again, but don’t know when?

I was told that it doesn’t assume that, and saying it still leaves the possibility that it won’t. However, I have trouble accepting that.

For example, if you just finish your first date,

you wouldn’t ask:

"I don’t know when our second date will be." to your friend if you’re unsure if you’re going to have one.

3 Answers

“If” implies that you’re not sure whether you will see him again.

“When” implies that you’re not sure at what time or date you will see him again.

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/grammar/british-grammar/if-or-when

Answered by Xanne on February 25, 2021

I think you've been told correctly. "I don't know when" doesn't inherently imply that you expect something to happen eventually.

Often context will make it clear. That's what happens in your second example of ending the date -- it would be considered inappropriate to say it that way if you don't expect a second date (although maybe the speaker is trying not to hurt the date's feelings by telling them outright that they don't want a second date).

In other cases you would usually try to make the conditions clearer:

I'd like to see you again the next time I'm in town, but I don't know when that will be.

Answered by Barmar on February 25, 2021

Perhaps, where and when are physical terms, of space and time, and, if is a logical, or abstract, mental term that may be applied to either of where and when.

Another distinction may be made, which I hadn't thought of, before. Namely, that not specifying the when, means that the where is specified, or assumed, and, versa. The word, if, is again the general case, whereby both the when, and the where, of something are unspecified but tied into some logical sequence of events.

Answered by G. Rem on February 25, 2021

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