Grammar experts, please help!

[Anonymous]

I've gone back and forth on this sentence, and I can't figure out which verb tense for "become" is appropriate:

"They expressed a desire to apply when programs (BECAME/BECOME) available in their communities."

The programs are not yet available, if that helps figuring the right tense. Any insight? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Became available.

Past subjunctive tense.

[Anonymous]

Agree with pp. It's "became".

[Anonymous]

Become, if the programs are not yet available.

[Anonymous]

Wanted to add that it would be "become" if expressed changed to "express".

[Anonymous]

BECOME!!!!!!! - became is past tense - they aren't planning to apply when the programs "became" available - see. changing the order of the words makes it more obvious.

If you were talking in the past tense, that someone previously applied for something when the programs "became" available - again, this works when talking about the past - not the present or future.

[Anonymous]

Another example:

Yesterday or today, that movie you hate became available on DVD.

Tomorrow, your favorite movie will BECOME available on DVD.

[Anonymous]

Become.

[Anonymous]

another vote for "become"
think of it this way: your sentance could also be:

"They expressed a desire to apply when programs will (BECAME/BECOME) available in their communities."

it means the same thing and you wouldn't say "will became" available.

[Anonymous]

*sentence*

[Anonymous]

Generally, you want to stick to the same tense within a sentence. So, "became." Or change "expressed" to "express" and use "become."

[Anonymous]

Become.

Became would indicate that they are available at the time you are writing this.

[Anonymous]

If it ALL had happened in the past (i.e. they had expressed the desire AND the programs had already become available), then I would go with became. But in your case, I think it should be become. It is not past subjunctive but rather future/uncertain subjective, right? (Kind of like "if I were a rich man"?)

[Anonymous]

I would write it like this:

They have expressed a desire to apply once programs become available in their communities.

[Anonymous]

Become.

If you need creds, I have a doctorate in linguistics and I used to work for the dictionary ...