What Part of Speech is “WHEN”
The word “when” has multiple functions. It can be used as an adverb, conjunction, pronoun, and noun.
- Adverb
This word is categorized as an adverb because it modifies a verb, and adjective, or another adverb by indicating the time. For example, in the sentence below:
Sunday is the day when I get my hair done.
The word “when” is used to denote the time (Sunday) when the verb is performed.
Definition:
a. at what time
- Example:
- When did you last see Carlo?
- Conjunction
In some cases, it is also considered as a conjunction because it can join two clauses or phrases together by suggesting the time. Furthermore, it can also substitute the words “whereas” or “although.” In the sample sentence below:
Raise your hand when you’re finished.
The word “when” connects “raise your hand” with “you’re finished.”
Definition:
a. at or during the time that.
- Example:
- I loved math when I was in middle school.
b. after which; and just then
- Example:
- She had just drifted off to sleep when the doorbell buzzed.
c. although; whereas
- Example:
- I’m saying it now, when I should have told you long ago.
- Pronoun
Other times, the word “when” is classified under pronouns if it is used to represent an unknown or unspecified time. For instance, in the example:
You need the report by when?
The word “when” is considered as a pronoun because it represents the unknown time when the report is needed.
Definition:
a. what or which time
- Example:
- I have lived here, since when I was born.
- Noun
Sometimes, the word “when” is also used as a noun which refers to the time when something happened or is done. For example, in this sentence:
He is troubled by the how and when of life.
“When” is the noun, it is a particular period of life and is the doer of an action- it “troubled” the subject “He.”
Definition:
a. the time in which something is done or comes about
- Example:
- The confusion is over the when of the statement.