When is a word we use to ask about or indicate the time something happens. If you want to know what time soccer practice starts, you ask “When does practice begin?” If you're telling a story, you might say “I was reading in my room when suddenly the lights went out.”

The word helps us connect events to specific moments or periods. “When I was six, I learned to ride a bike” tells us the age at which something happened. “When it rains, the creek floods” explains what conditions cause something else to occur.

When can also express the idea of “at the time that” or “during the time that.” Consider: “When the bell rings, class is over” or “When you finish your homework, you can play outside.” These sentences link two events together, showing that one happens at the same time as, or right after, the other.

Sometimes people use when to express surprise or contrast, as in “How can you say you're bored when there are so many books to read?” This usage emphasizes a contradiction or questions someone's reasoning.