INDEX:
1. at or immediately after the time when something happens
2. when one thing always happens when another thing happens
3. when one thing happens during the time that something else is happening
4. ways of asking or mentioning when something happened or will happen
RELATED WORDS
see also
↑ TIME
↑ DURING
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1. at or immediately after the time when something happens
▷ when /wen/ [conjunction]
▪ When I give the signal, turn on the engine.
▪ When I told her what had happened she was really shocked.
▪ We’d only just finished cleaning the house when our guests arrived.
▪ You can change when you get back.
▪ I quit school when I was 15.
▪ When completed, the road will link four major cities.
2. when one thing always happens when another thing happens
▷ when /wen/ [conjunction]
▪ Her nose crinkles up when she laughs.
▪ When the demand for a product is high, its price tends to rise.
▪ I can’t understand you when you mumble.
▪ You know what she’s like when she’s on the phone.
▷ whenever /wenˈevəʳ/ [conjunction]
use this when you want to emphasize that something always happens when another thing happens :
▪ Whenever we come here, we see somebody we know.
▪ You should come and talk to me whenever you have a problem.
whenever you can
▪ I try to rest whenever I can.
▪ He still visited her whenever he could.
whenever possible
▪ She still visits her old schoolfriends whenever possible.
▷ every time /ˌevri ˈtaɪm/ [conjunction]
use this when you want to emphasize that something always happens when another thing happens :
▪ Every time she sees me she says looks away.
▪ Every time it rains we get a flood in the bedroom.
▪ Don’t ask me for money every time you want to buy a drink.
3. when one thing happens during the time that something else is happening
▷ when /wen/ [conjunction]
▪ I hurt my shoulder when I was playing football.
▪ All this happened when we were living abroad.
▪ When she was at college she wrote for a student newspaper.
▪ Why were you downstairs when everyone else was in bed?
▷ while also whilst British formal /waɪl, waɪlst/ [conjunction]
during the time that something is happening - use this to emphasize that something is continuing :
▪ My car was stolen while I was on holiday.
▪ While she was out of the room, he took a quick look at the papers on her desk.
▪ While Sandy was filling out the forms, I called Jimmy from the airport.
▪ Patients often comment upon lack of sleep whilst in hospital.
▪ They keep the animals under sedation whilst they’re being transported.
while/whilst doing something
▪ They were killed while attempting to reach the summit.
4. ways of asking or mentioning when something happened or will happen
▷ when /wen/ [adverb/conjunction]
▪ When are you leaving for Norway?
▪ When did you last have something to eat?
▪ Do you know when the concert will be held?
▪ I can’t remember when I bought this.
▷ what time /ˌwɒt ˈtaɪm/ [adverb/conjunction]
exactly when :
▪ What time is dinner?
▪ What time did you get in last night?
▪ What time do you usually get home from work?
▪ I don’t know what time she’s coming home.
▷ at what point /ət ˌwɒt ˈpɔɪnt/ [adverb/conjunction]
at what particular time during a process, situation, or activity :
▪ At what point did you try to stop the fight?
▪ At what point did you realize that your book would never be published?
▪ I’m not sure at what point he began to suspect the truth.