Explanation at your level:
You use when to ask about time. You can say: 'When is your birthday?' or 'I am happy when I eat pizza.' It is a very simple word to help you talk about your day.
At this level, you use when to connect two sentences. For example, 'I call my mom when I get home.' It helps you tell a story about what you do every day.
You can now use when in more complex sentences. It helps describe conditions, such as 'When you finish your homework, we can go to the park.' It is essential for explaining plans.
Use when to add nuance. It can imply 'whenever' or 'at the time that.' It is common in professional emails, like 'Please let me know when the report is ready,' showing clear communication.
In advanced writing, when often introduces abstract temporal concepts. It can be used to contrast situations or highlight specific moments in a narrative. It is a vital tool for academic discourse and logical sequencing.
At the mastery level, when is used to create sophisticated, rhythmic prose. It can be used in literary contexts to build tension or transition between complex ideas. It is a subtle but powerful connector in high-level rhetoric.
Palavra em 30 segundos
- Used for time.
- Acts as a conjunction.
- Common in questions.
- Essential for sequencing.
Think of when as your temporal bridge. It is one of the most useful words in English because it helps us organize our lives by linking events together.
You use it to ask questions like When does the party start? or to explain sequences like I feel happy when the sun shines. It is a tiny word that carries a lot of organizational weight in every sentence.
The word when has deep roots in the Old English word hwanne. It is part of the Germanic language family, sharing a common ancestor with the German word wann.
Over centuries, the spelling shifted as the English language evolved from Middle English to Modern English. It has always been a fundamental 'wh-word,' serving as a cornerstone for asking questions about time since the earliest recorded English texts.
You can use when in both casual chats and formal reports. It is incredibly versatile.
In casual speech, we often use it to start questions or link clauses. In formal writing, it helps define conditions or specific timeframes. Common collocations include when it comes to, when possible, and when in doubt.
1. When pigs fly: Something that will never happen.
2. When the chips are down: During a difficult situation.
3. When in Rome: Do as the locals do.
4. When push comes to shove: When a situation becomes critical.
5. When all is said and done: After everything has been considered.
When is a subordinating conjunction. It introduces a dependent clause that cannot stand alone.
Pronunciation is /wɛn/ in both US and UK English. It rhymes with pen, ten, men, den, and hen. Note that in some dialects, the 'wh' sound is slightly aspirated, though most modern speakers pronounce it like a simple 'w'.
Fun Fact
It is one of the oldest words in the English language.
Pronunciation Guide
Short 'e' sound.
Clear 'w' and short 'e'.
Common Errors
- Pronouncing 'wh' as 'f'
- Adding extra syllables
- Confusing with 'went'
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy
Easy
Easy
Easy
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Avançado
Grammar to Know
Subordinating Conjunctions
I left when he arrived.
Adverbial Clauses
When I am ready, I will go.
Question Word Order
When is the party?
Examples by Level
When is the party?
Asking about time
Interrogative
I sleep when I am tired.
Condition
Conjunction
When are you coming?
Asking time
Question
I smile when I see you.
Time of action
Conjunction
When is lunch?
Time
Interrogative
I read when it is quiet.
Time
Conjunction
When do you wake up?
Time
Interrogative
We play when it is sunny.
Condition
Conjunction
When I was young, I lived here.
Call me when you arrive.
When does the train leave?
I feel cold when it snows.
When will you be back?
I study when I have time.
When he arrives, we will eat.
She sings when she is happy.
When it comes to cooking, he is the best.
I was reading when the phone rang.
When possible, please arrive early.
He left when the movie ended.
When in doubt, ask for help.
I will tell you when I know.
When you are ready, let me know.
She cried when she heard the news.
When faced with a challenge, stay calm.
I remember the day when we met.
When considering the options, choose wisely.
When all is said and done, he was right.
When the economy improves, jobs increase.
I prefer coffee when I work late.
When you have finished, leave the room.
When push comes to shove, he helps.
When the dust settles, we will see the truth.
There are times when silence is golden.
When juxtaposed with the original, it fails.
When contemplating the future, be bold.
When one considers the facts, it is clear.
When the clock struck twelve, he left.
When properly executed, the plan is flawless.
When circumstances change, adapt quickly.
Whence it came, nobody knows.
When the stars align, greatness occurs.
When the veil is lifted, the truth emerges.
When time is of the essence, act fast.
When the tides turn, the harbor changes.
When the muse strikes, write it down.
When the curtain falls, the play ends.
When the winter wanes, spring arrives.
Colocações comuns
Idioms & Expressions
"when pigs fly"
never
He will clean his room when pigs fly.
casual"when the chips are down"
in a crisis
I will be there when the chips are down.
neutral"when in Rome"
adapt to local customs
When in Rome, eat the pasta.
neutral"when push comes to shove"
at the moment of crisis
When push comes to shove, he is a coward.
casual"when all is said and done"
in the end
When all is said and done, we are friends.
neutral"when the dust settles"
after the confusion
We will talk when the dust settles.
neutralEasily Confused
Both are question words.
Time vs Place.
When is it? Where is it?
Both relate to time.
Point vs Duration.
When I arrived vs While I waited.
Both introduce clauses.
Certainty vs Condition.
When I go vs If I go.
Both relate to time.
Conjunction vs Adverb.
When I go, I will eat.
Sentence Patterns
When + subject + verb
When I sleep, I dream.
Subject + verb + when + subject + verb
I dream when I sleep.
When + participle
When finished, leave.
When it comes to + noun
When it comes to food, I love pizza.
When + possible
Call when possible.
Família de palavras
Relacionado
How to Use It
10
Formality Scale
Erros comuns
Use 'if' for conditions that might not happen.
When is for time, where is for place.
Don't say 'When I arrived, then I ate.'
If 'when' starts the sentence, use a comma.
Use 'while' for long actions.
Tips
Memory Palace Trick
Visualize a clock.
When Native Speakers Use It
In almost every sentence.
Cultural Insight
Time is precious in English culture.
Grammar Shortcut
Use a comma if 'when' starts the sentence.
Say It Right
Keep it short.
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't use 'when' for place.
Did You Know?
It has Germanic roots.
Study Smart
Practice with 'if' vs 'when'.
Sentence Structure
Always link two ideas.
Formal Writing
Use it to define conditions.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
W-H-E-N: When Has Every Noon?
Visual Association
A clock face.
Word Web
Desafio
Write 5 sentences using 'when'.
Origem da palavra
Old English
Original meaning: at what time
Contexto cultural
None.
Used universally in all English-speaking countries.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
at school
- When is the exam?
- When does class end?
- When is lunch?
at work
- When is the deadline?
- When can we meet?
- When is the report due?
travel
- When does the bus leave?
- When can I check in?
- When is the flight?
daily life
- When are you coming over?
- When do you wake up?
- When is dinner?
Conversation Starters
"When do you feel happiest?"
"When was the last time you traveled?"
"When do you usually wake up?"
"When is your favorite time of year?"
"When do you plan to retire?"
Journal Prompts
Describe a time when you were happy.
Write about when you learned a new skill.
What do you do when you are stressed?
When do you feel most productive?
Perguntas frequentes
8 perguntasYes, it is a subordinating conjunction.
Yes, absolutely.
'When' is for a point in time, 'while' is for a duration.
No, it is a conjunction or adverb.
Like 'wen'.
No, use 'where'.
Yes, it is a common question word.
It acts as a relative adverb.
Teste-se
___ is your birthday?
When asks about time.
Which sentence is correct?
Both structures are grammatically correct.
You should use 'when' to describe a place.
Use 'where' for places.
Word
Significado
Match the question word to its category.
I sing when I am happy.
___ in doubt, ask.
Standard idiom.
Which is more formal?
The phrase is more formal.
Can 'when' introduce a noun clause?
Yes, e.g., 'I know when he arrives.'
When the dust settles, talk.
___ it comes to art, he is a master.
Idiomatic usage.
Pontuação: /10
Summary
When is the ultimate tool for connecting events in time.
- Used for time.
- Acts as a conjunction.
- Common in questions.
- Essential for sequencing.
Memory Palace Trick
Visualize a clock.
When Native Speakers Use It
In almost every sentence.
Cultural Insight
Time is precious in English culture.
Grammar Shortcut
Use a comma if 'when' starts the sentence.
