"When"

with Teacher Alex

 WHEN
is a wh-word. We use when
to ask questions, as a
conjunction and to introduce
relative clauses.
When as a question word

We can use when to ask for information about

what time something happens:

When did you leave?

When are you going on holiday?
When will you know the result of the exam?
We can use when in indirect questions:

She asked me when I would be

ready to start the job.

I wonder when the new

computers will arrive.
When as a
conjunction
We use when as a conjunction meaning ‘at the time
that’. The clause with when is a subordinate clause (sc)
and needs a main clause (mc) to complete its meaning.
If the when-clause comes before the main clause, we
use a comma.
Talking about Past, Present and Future
PAST PRESENT FUTURE

When the new park

When I was young, When you start the
opens, I’ll go there every
there were no houses engine, there’s a
day.
here. strange noise.
Nobody spoke when
When I’ve finished my
she came into the homework, I’m going to
room. phone Marita.
When as a relative pronoun
We can use when as a relative pronoun
in relative clauses:
That was the week when we booked our holiday.

The parcel arrived in the post at 11 am, when I was still at

work.
Since when?
We can use since when to ask at what time
something began. We often use it as a response
when we are surprised that something has begun:

A: Hilary’s working at the Art Museum now.

B: Really? Since when?
A: Oh, she’s been there about three months.
Warning!
Using Since when at the start of a question
can express anger or sarcasm:

[talking about children watching television]

A:
Maybe you should try not to let them watch
so much television.
B:
Since when are you an expert on childcare?
(This is very direct.)
 When or if?
We use when to refer to a future situation or condition that we are certain of, whereas we use if to introduce a possible or unreal
situation.

When I see Gary, I’ll tell him that you

I will definitely see Gary.
said hello.

If I see Gary, I’ll tell him that you said

I may see Gary but I am not certain.
hello.
 When or since?
We use when to mean ‘(at) the time that’. We use since to refer to a particular time in the past until another time or until now:

I have been having a boring

I had a great time when I
time since I came back
went to the coast.
home.
 When: typical errors

1 2 3
Be careful not to use when instead of Be careful not to use when instead of
We don’t use will after when to mean
if: since:
‘at that time’:

If you arrive too late, you are not
allowed to take the examination
because they don’t accept late
enrolment.
I was very surprised to see him
When I start college, I’ll miss my old
because it’s been a long time since I
school friends.
last saw him.