1. My skin always peels when I've been in the sun.

2. My skin always peels when I am in the sun.
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Which one is right? Are both correct? What is the difference between them?

Posted by rfvv on Monday, August 26, 2013 at 3:36am.

1. My skin always peels when I've been in the sun.

2. My skin always peels when I am in the sun.

(Are both grammatical? What is the difference between #1 and #2?)

English - Writeacher, Monday, August 26, 2013 at 6:11am

Both sentences mean the same thing, but I think 'after' is a more accurate preposition, rather than 'when.'

Sentence 1 is correct; sentence 2 is incorrect.

Our skin peels AFTER a sunburn, not WHEN we are in the sun, getting that sunburn!

Both sentences are grammatically correct, but there is a slight difference in meaning between them.

1. "My skin always peels when I've been in the sun."

This sentence suggests a cause-and-effect relationship. It implies that after being in the sun, the person's skin starts peeling. The use of "when I've been" indicates a past action that could still be relevant to the present situation.

2. "My skin always peels when I am in the sun."

This sentence also suggests a cause-and-effect relationship. It implies that whenever the person is in the sun, their skin starts peeling. The use of "when I am" indicates a general truth or a habitual action.

In summary, sentence 1 emphasizes the past action of being in the sun and its continuing effect on the present, while sentence 2 emphasizes the general truth that being in the sun always causes the person's skin to peel.