Kiam mi havas tro da streso en la oficejo, mi promenas dek minutojn por trankviliĝi.

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Breakdown of Kiam mi havas tro da streso en la oficejo, mi promenas dek minutojn por trankviliĝi.

• havi: to have
• la: the
• en: in

Questions & Answers about Kiam mi havas tro da streso en la oficejo, mi promenas dek minutojn por trankviliĝi.

Why does the sentence start with kiam? Does it mean when or whenever here?

Here kiam literally means when, but in a sentence like this it often has the sense of whenever or when(ever) that happens.

So Kiam mi havas tro da streso en la oficejo... can describe a repeated situation:

• When/Whenever I have too much stress at the office...

Esperanto uses kiam for both a single time and a habitual situation, and the broader context tells you which one is meant.

Why are both verbs in the present tense: havas and promenas?

Esperanto often uses the present tense for habitual or general actions, just like English can do:

• When I have too much stress..., I walk...

This does not have to mean only right now. It can mean:

• this is what I usually do
• this is my normal response in that situation

So:

• havas = I have
• promenas = I walk / I go for a walk

If the speaker were describing one specific past event, the verbs would likely be past tense instead.

Why is it tro da streso and not just tro streso?