Please take the package right when the post office opens.

[B45]

Please take the package right when the post office is open.

VS

Please take the package right when the post office opens.

Are both okay?

 

[emsr2d2]

"Opens" is correct. In BrE, we would use "as soon as the Post Office opens" not "right when the ...".

 

[Matthew Wai]

Would you use "on the Post Office's opening"? The Oxford dictionary says "on" can mean "immediately after".

 

[Rover_KE]

Your phrase is grammatical but not colloquial in this context.

(There's no need to capitalise 'post office'.)

 

[emsr2d2]

I think Matthew was copying my capitalisation of Post Office. Because it's still a brand name (and there is no competition), I always capitalise it. "I'm going to the Post Office" is the same as "I'm going to Waterstone's" or "I'm off to Sainsbury's". I agree that a "post office" is a type of business but, for me, it's a company name.

 

[Rover_KE]

As you wish. To me it's just another building like the bank or library.

 

[B45]

"Opens" is correct. In BrE, we would use "as soon as the Post Office opens" not "right when the ...".

Are my two examples wrong then?

 

[emsr2d2]

When they wake up, I'm sure one of our AmE speakers will tell you whether "right when the ... opens" is OK for them.

 

[MikeNewYork]

It is not normal for me as an AmE speaker. And I would also capitalize "Post Office".

 

[B45]

It is not normal for me as an AmE speaker. And I would also capitalize "Post Office".

What would you change it to?

 

[Matthew Wai]

I would remove "right".

Not a teacher.

 

[MikeNewYork]

I would use "as soon as" as in post #2 or nothing at all: "when the Post Office opens". If you use nothing, "when the post office opens" has a meaning different from "when the Post Office is open".

 

[emsr2d2]

Yes, that was the point I was going to make once we'd established how natural the rest of it was in AmE.

If the Post Office is open from 9am until 5pm, "Take it when/as soon as the Post Office opens" means "Take it at 9am" but "Take it when the Post Office is open" means "Take it any time between 9am and 5pm".