When is a versatile word and can be used as an adverb and conjunction. As an adverb, when is typically used to refer to the time or circumstances of something happening. For example: “I’ll call you when I get home.” When can also be used to ask when something happened or will happen in the future: “When did they arrive?”

As a conjunction, when joins two clauses together to indicate that one event occurs after another has taken place. For example: “I was tired after work, so I went home early when my friends asked me out for dinner.” In this sentence, it’s clear that going home early occurred after being asked out for dinner by friends.

In addition, we often use phrases such as “when all is said and done,” which means at some point in the future once everything has been completed, “when push comes to shove,” which means if there are no other alternatives left; and “when pigs fly” which never implies because it’s impossible, at least for now anyways!