when
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when
(wĕn, hwĕn)when
(wɛn)when
(ʰwɛn, wɛn; unstressed ʰwən, wən)adv.
when
You use when to ask about the time that something happened or will happen.
You use when in time clauses to say that something happened, happens, or will happen at a particular time.
If you are talking about the future, use the present simple in the time clause, not a future form. For example, say 'Stop when you feel tired'. Don't say 'Stop when you will feel tired'.
If you want to say what was happening at the time that an event occurred, you can begin by saying what was happening, then add a clause beginning with when.
You can also use as or while to say what was happening when an event occurred. When you use one of these words, you describe the event in the main clause and say what was happening in the clause beginning with as or while.
If you want to say that two events are continuing to happen at the same time, you usually use while.
When has another use which is not related to time. You can add a clause beginning with when to a question which begins with why, as a way of expressing surprise or disagreement. The when-clause shows the reason for your surprise or disagreement.
when
[wen]when did it happen? → ¿cuándo ocurrió?
he asked me when I had seen it → me preguntó cuándo lo había visto
do you know when he died? → ¿sabes cuándo murió?
I know when it happened → yo sé cuándo ocurrió
he told me when the wedding would be → me dijo cuándo sería la boda
he told me when to come in → me indicó cuándo entrar
say when! (when serving food, drink) → ¡dime cuánto!
since when since when do you like or have you liked Indian food? → ¿desde cuándo te gusta la comida india?
till when? → ¿hasta cuándo?
when will we learn to keep our mouths shut! → ¡cuándo aprenderemos a callar la boca!
that was when the trouble started → entonces fue cuando empezaron los problemas
Monday? that's when Ted gets back → ¿el lunes? ese día es cuando vuelve Ted
that's when the programme starts → a esa hora es cuando empieza el programa
1958: that's when I was born → 1958: (en) ese año nací yo
she told me about when she was in London → me contó lo que le pasó cuando estuvo en Londres
during the time when she lived abroad → durante el tiempo (en) que vivió en el extranjero
the year when you were born → el año (en) que naciste
she can't remember a time when she wasn't happy → no recuerda una época (en) que no fuese feliz
there are times when I wish I'd never met him → hay momentos en los que desearía no haberlo conocido nunca
some days, when we're very busy, we don't finish work till very late → algunos días, cuando tenemos mucho trabajo, no acabamos hasta muy tarde
when I came in → cuando entré
when I was young → cuando era joven
he had just sat down when the phone rang → acababa de sentarse cuando sonó el teléfono
everything looks nicer when the sun is shining → todo está más bonito cuando brilla el sol
he arrived at 8 o'clock, when traffic is at its peak → llegó a las ocho en punto, en lo peor del tráfico
call me when you get there → llámame cuando llegues
when the bridge is built → cuando se construya el puente
you can go when we have finished → puedes irte cuando hayamos terminado
he said he'd tell me when I was older → dijo que me lo diría cuando fuera mayor
when he went out he saw it was raining → al salir vio que estaba lloviendo
when a student at Oxford, she → cuando era estudiante or estudiaba en Oxford ...
my father, when young, had a fine tenor voice → mi padre, de joven or cuando era joven, tenía una buena voz de tenor
when just three years old, he was → cuando tenía sólo tres años, era ...
the floor is slippery when wet → el suelo resbala cuando está mojado
hardly had the film begun when there was a power cut → apenas había empezado la película cuando se fue la corriente
even when → aun cuando
this sounds expensive when compared with other cars → éste parece caro si or cuando se compara con otros coches
how can I relax when I've got loads of things to do? → ¿cómo puedo relajarme si or cuando tengo montones de cosas que hacer?
I wouldn't walk when I could get the bus → no iría a pie si pudiese tomar el autobús