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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

When Meaning, Usage & Examples as Adverb and Conjunction (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：at what time (when)

when 🔊

/wɛn/

adv, conj

Used to ask about the time something happens or will happen.

Person asking what time it is while looking at wristwatch

at what time 🔊

➕

/æt wʌt taɪm/

adv, conj

Used to ask about the specific time or moment of an event.

📁 Category：Time & Dates 🔖 Level：beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Old English 'hwenne', related to 'who' and 'what', forming interrogative temporal adverbs.

💡 Mnemonic

Think 'where + then' = when: asking about the time location.

📖 Example

When is the party? I need to check my schedule. 🔊 What time is the party? I need to check my schedule.

🔗 Collocations

when to – the time at which one should do something

when it comes to – regarding the subject of

even when – despite the fact that

🔄 Synonyms

at what time (phrase) – Directly asks for the time of an event.

the time at which (phrase) – More formal way to refer to a specific moment.

🌱 Derivatives

whence (adv) – from what place or source

whenever (conj) – at any time that

whensoever (adv) – formal variant of whenever

📖 Cultural Story

The word 'when' derives from Proto-Germanic *hwannē, cognate with Latin 'quando'. It has been a core question word in English since the 8th century, used to pinpoint time in everyday conversation.

Meaning 2：at the time that (when)

when 🔊

/wɛn/

adv, conj

Used to connect two actions, showing one happens at the same time as or right after another.

Child tearing wrapping paper to reveal toy box at that moment

at the time that 🔊

➕

/æt ðə taɪm ðæt/

adv, conj

Used to indicate the time at which something happens, often connecting two events that occur simultaneously or in sequence.

📁 Category：Time & Dates 🔖 Level：beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

I was so happy when I opened the present and saw the new video game. 🔊 I felt a great joy at the moment I opened the present and saw the new video game.

🔗 Collocations

when I was – at the time I was (doing something)

when he came – at the moment he arrived

when young – during the time of being young

🔄 Synonyms

while (conj) – Indicates two actions happening at the same time.

as (conj) – Indicates simultaneous events, often with a sense of progression.

at the moment that (phrase) – Emphasizes the exact point in time.

🚫 Antonyms

before (conj/prep) – Indicates an earlier time than another event.

after (conj/prep) – Indicates a later time than another event.

🌱 Derivatives

whence (adv) – from what place or source

whenever (conj) – at any time that

whensoever (adv) – formal variant of whenever