when

Adverb

Adverb

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A word that modifies a verb, adjective, another adverb, or a clause.

1. 1.At what time? At which time? Upon which occasion or circumstance? Used to introduce direct or indirect questions about time.

   • Do you know when they arrived?
   • I don't know when they arrived.
   • The site's all bugged. Fix when?

2. 2.At an earlier time and under different, usually less favorable, circumstances.

   • He's mister high and mighty now, but I remember him when.

3. 3.At which, on which, during which: often omitted or replaced with that.

   • That was the day when the Twin Towers fell.
   • Not a week goes by when I don't mourn that loss.

4. 4.The time at, on or during which.

   • Next year is when we elect a new mayor.
   • I recall when they were called the Greys.

Conj

Conjunction

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A word that links words, phrases, or clauses.

1. 1.At (or as soon as) that time that; at the (or any and every) time that; if.

   • Don't forget to signal when (you are) turning right.
   • When she'd written her letters, she did some gardening.
   • A student is disqualified when [as soon as, if] they cheat.

2. 2.During the time that; at the time of the action of the following clause or participle phrase.

   • Be careful when crossing the street.
   • It was raining when I came yesterday.
   • The game is over when the referee says it is.

3. 3.At what time; at which time.

   • I am here till Friday, when [i.e. at which time] I leave for Senegal.
   • I was just walking down the street, when [i.e. at which time] all of a sudden it started to rain.
   • He sat at the door of his kitchen watching, and seeing there was nothing else for it we buckled to and soon had the job done; when we were admitted to the kitchen and given a really good meal.

4. 4.Since; given the fact that; considering that.

   • I don't see the point of putting up Christmas decorations when I am the only person who is going to see them.

Overall

Very common· #70

By learning goal

Everyday conversation

Common

General reading & writing

Very common

Academic

Uncommon

Literature

Uncommon

Word family

• whenever