On purchasing the phone, I was assured that this was the latest and the best model available there.
What is meant by "On purchasing the phone" here exactly? Does it mean "While I was purchasing the phone"?
meaningphrasesprepositions
On purchasing the phone, I was assured that this was the latest and the best model available there.
What is meant by "On purchasing the phone" here exactly? Does it mean "While I was purchasing the phone"?
Best Answer
[Up]on + gerund participle establishes a connection to the action or state of the main clause, but the temporal relationship is not topical. In this warning sign, for instance, it's clear that certain precautions are to be taken before entering:
The two actions may be simultaneous:
Or in an ininterrupted sequence:
Or one action is a signal to perform another without delay:
Or one action clearly occurs after another:
Highlighting the temporal relationship of the gerund participle after on/upon is of course just the opposite of what the writers of these passages intend.
So at some point in the process of purchasing the phone, you were told it was the best model available, but exactly when you heard this exciting news is not topical at all.