Roger Federer has just won another award (in 2013 – one of his worst seasons) in his career and Tim Henman commenting on the ceremony says ironically:
He will probably win (once or twice more/again) the fans favourite even when he is not playing.
I wonder why my teacher says "When he does not play" would be wrong and that it would imply just one match. However my intention is to say "When he does not play" = when he is retired.
Is it really wrong? What is the difference please?
Thank you!
Best Answer
The present continuous is used here to emphasize the continuing action (or in this case, non-action) in the present and into the future. The "not-playing" takes place now and continues forever into the future.
The time described by even when he is not playing is understood here to be the time when he is no longer playing, i.e., when he is retired.
The simple present when he does not play would not be taken to mean that only a single match is not played, in spite of what your teacher (who may not be a native English speaker) incorrectly told you. The usage would not be wrong, but the time described by when he does not play could be understood as including only the present. It leaves open the possibility that he may play again in the future; it would not imply that he is retired.