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The Kitchen Table

When vs whenever!

Annette Holbrook(z7a)

3 years ago

I’ve been watching a very enjoyable show called Tiny BNB. A young guy travels the country staying in tiny Airbnbs. I really like the show and the host, but he constantly uses whenever when he should be using when. I‘m wondering if it’s a generational or regional thing.

Comments (13)

Lindsey_CA
3 years ago
Can you give some examples of his incorrect usage of the word "when"?
Annette Holbrook(z7a)
Original Author
3 years ago
“So whenever you get there, you’ll notice the resort feel.”

As I recall, one way to determine which to use is to replace the when/whenever with “every time” you can see which to use. So in that case, yes, I’d notice the resort feel but not every time I got there.

You’d have to watch a few episodes, but I’ve never heard him use when, just whenever. I’m going to suggest it as a drinking game lol.
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maifleur03
3 years ago
He may be like I was when I used to travel. While I planned on being at certain stops I did not plan on what time I would get there unless there was something like the gate closes at 6 and does not reopen until 5 in the morning. Some days I might travel 50 miles other days it might be 600 so my time frame was whenever I got there.
Annette Holbrook(z7a)
Original Author
3 years ago
He also uses it describing the interior.

“Whenever you open the drawer, you’ll find all the utensils you’ll need to make a meal.”
kathyg_in_mi
3 years ago
What station is it on?
Elmer J Fudd
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
Seems to me that when is a one-time discrete event. Whenever seems broader and more generic, something that's not fixed or time dependent.

"You'll see the beer when you open the fridge". It's something you'll be doing

"You'll see the beer whenever you open the fridge". It's there but you may not see it because you may not open it.
PRO
MDLN
3 years ago
Annette Holbrook(z7a)
Original Author
3 years ago
The show is on a streaming channel. The Design Network. I watch it on my iPad or Roku.
bpath
3 years ago
It’s not generational, I heard it back in the ‘80s.
colleenoz
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
""You'll see the beer when you open the fridge". It's something you'll be doing

"You'll see the beer whenever you open the fridge". It's there but you may not see it because you may not open it."

Sorry, I disagree, Elmer.

"You'll see the beer when you open the fridge". You can't see it unless you open the fridge.

"You'll see the beer whenever you open the fridge". It's always there, so every time you open the fridge you'll see it. (Does it somehow magically replenish itself if you consume it?)

I've been watching a You Tube video series and the hosts liberally sprinkle almost every sentence with "literally" : "I was literally just about to do this when that happened". Often they weren't literally doing whatever it was. It's driving me nuts.
Elmer J Fudd
3 years ago
It's an answer to the question "where's the beer?"
carolb_w_fl_coastal_9b
3 years ago
From the definition posted up there: '...or events whose date and time is uncertain'

And the example is given by #5.

The host is addressing a presumably large number of viewers, so isn't the 'you' collective? IMO, 'whenever' seems appropriate. Some viewers may go to the places being shown, but not all, and certainly not all at the same time.
joyfulguy
3 years ago
How about "absolutely" or "myself" for words also currently used in rather unusual situations?

ole joyful

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