Thread: Very short short story; please check grammar etc.

Originally Posted by grafrich

So, because word order is fluid, the connecting word 'когда' isn't necessarily the first word in the clause, is that correct?
It could then also read 'когда как раз вошли в комнату другие...'
Although something about that sounds clumsy when I say it out loud to myself.

It's good that it sounds clumsy to you, that means you're developing an intuitive understanding of the language. Как раз когда - just when..., как раз - just then. In Russian "when" is a sign of a subordinate clause. I don't know if it helps clear things up for you. I don't like my original explanation and have been trying to think up a better one.

Originally Posted by iCake

It's good that it sounds clumsy to you, that means you're developing an intuitive understanding of the language. Как раз когда - just when..., как раз - just then. In Russian "when" is a sign of a subordinate clause. I don't know if it helps clear things up for you. I don't like my original explanation and have been trying to think up a better one.

Как раз когда - just when..., как раз - just then
That puts it into perspective. The uses of 'when' to introduce subordinate clauses and 'then' to introduce independant clauses are basically the same in English, as far as I can tell.

I could translate 'Как раз когда...' as 'and it was at that moment that...' which I think serves the same purpose as 'just as':-

'... - He cried, just as others arrived'
'... - He cried, and it was at that moment that others arrived'

I think I'm right about that. I'll look at it again tomorrow when I'm less tired.