You’re correct that it’s not grammatically wrong, but a subtle semantic mis-match. Let’s bring in the difference between “every time” and “whenever”. While “when” and “every time” are interchangeable, “whenever” and “every time” are not. “Every time” is exact and without fail, while “whenever” implies unpredictability or indifference to the exact location.
“When (strongly implied every time) I go to the theater (exact location), I get popcorn.”
“Every time (explicitly) I go to the theater (exact location), I get popcorn.”
“Whenever (unpredictable, indifferent) I go to the theater (exact location -mismatch with unpredictability) I get popcorn”
That explanation makes logical sense, but honestly I suck at spelling and grammar. I also feel like a lot of it is location and setting dependant and people interpret things in different ways.
I wonder if I’m using it incorrectly now.
We can go to the cinema whenever you like.
That is how I would use it. And I would use when like, when did you go to the cinema?
You’ve used it correctly! An incorrect usage would be:
“Whenever I go to the cinema, I get popcorn.”
Huh…
I would use that too, so I decided to search it up and this is what I found.
When is used for a specific time or single occurrences.
Whenever is used for repeated events or entries with uncertain dates or times.
So your example seems like it should be whenever, as it’s not talking about a specific time but more every time they go.
You’re correct that it’s not grammatically wrong, but a subtle semantic mis-match. Let’s bring in the difference between “every time” and “whenever”. While “when” and “every time” are interchangeable, “whenever” and “every time” are not. “Every time” is exact and without fail, while “whenever” implies unpredictability or indifference to the exact location.
“When (strongly implied every time) I go to the theater (exact location), I get popcorn.”
“Every time (explicitly) I go to the theater (exact location), I get popcorn.”
“Whenever (unpredictable, indifferent) I go to the theater (exact location -mismatch with unpredictability) I get popcorn”
Does that make sense?
That explanation makes logical sense, but honestly I suck at spelling and grammar. I also feel like a lot of it is location and setting dependant and people interpret things in different ways.