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Why vs When - What's the difference?

why | when |

As adverbs the difference between why and when

is that why is for what cause, reason, or purpose while when is (interrogative) (used to introduce questions about time).

As nouns the difference between why and when

is that why is reason or why can be (uk|dialect) a young heifer while when is the time.

As interjections the difference between why and when

is that why is an exclamation used to express indignation, mild surprise, or impatience "well, i'll tell you" while when is that's enough,.

As a conjunction when is

at what time.

As a pronoun when is

(interrogative) what time; which time.

why

English

(wikipedia why)

Etymology 1

From (etyl), from (etyl) . See (l).

Adverb

(-)
  • For what cause, reason, or purpose.
  • #
  • Why is the sky blue?
  • Why did you do that?
  • I don’t know why he did that
  • Tell me why the moon changes phase.
  • #
  • Why spend money on something you already get for free?
  • Why not tell him how you feel?
  • #
  • Why''' him? '''Why not someone taller?
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-07-20, volume=408, issue=8845, magazine=(The Economist)
  • , title= Welcome to the plastisphere , passage=Plastics are energy-rich substances, which is why many of them burn so readily. Any organism that could unlock and use that energy would do well in the Anthropocene. Terrestrial bacteria and fungi which can manage this trick are already familiar to experts in the field.}}
    Synonyms
    * how come, wherefore

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • reason
  • A good article will cover the who, the what, the when, the where, the why and the how .
    Synonyms
    * wherefore

    Interjection

    (en interjection)
  • An exclamation used to express indignation, mild surprise, or impatience. "Well, I'll tell you...".
  • * Daniel Defoe
  • Why , child, I tell thee if I was thy mother I would not disown thee; don't you see I am as kind to you as if I was your mother?”
    Derived terms
    * whyever * why in God's name * why not * why on Earth * whys and wherefores * why the Devil * why the dickens * why the fuck

    Etymology 2

    Noun

    (whies)
  • (UK, dialect) A young heifer.
  • (Grose)

    Statistics

    *

    when

    English

    (wikipedia when)

    Adverb

    (-)
  • (interrogative) (Used to introduce questions about time).
  • When will they arrive ?
  • (Used to introduce indirect questions about time).
  • Do you know when they arrived?
    Do you know when they will arrive?
    Do you know when they arrive?
  • At an earlier and less prosperous time.
  • He's mister high and mighty now, but I remember him when .

    Conjunction

    (missing senses) (English Conjunctions)
  • At what time.
  • :
  • *
  • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=4 , passage=The Celebrity, by arts unknown, induced Mrs. Judge Short and two other ladies to call at Mohair on an afternoon when Mr. Cooke was trying a trotter on the track.
  • *
  • *:Turning back, then, toward the basement staircase, she began to grope her way through blinding darkness, but had taken only a few uncertain steps when , of a sudden, she stopped short and for a little stood like a stricken thing, quite motionless save that she quaked to her very marrow in the grasp of a great and enervating fear.
  • At such time as.
  • :
  • *{{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=July-August, author=(Henry Petroski)
  • , title= Geothermal Energy , volume=101, issue=4, magazine=(American Scientist) , passage=Energy has seldom been found where we need it when we want it. Ancient nomads, wishing to ward off the evening chill and enjoy a meal around a campfire, had to collect wood and then spend time and effort coaxing the heat of friction out from between sticks to kindle a flame. With more settled people, animals were harnessed to capstans or caged in treadmills to turn grist into meal.}}
  • As soon as.
  • :
  • At a time in the past.
  • :
  • *{{quote-news, year=2012, date=April 22, author=Sam Sheringham, work=BBC Sport
  • , title= Liverpool 0-1 West Brom , passage=The Baggies had offered little threat until the 28th minute, but when their first chance came it was a clear one.}}

    Derived terms

    * whenwe

    Pronoun

    (English Pronouns)
  • (interrogative) What time; which time
  • Since when do I need your permission?

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The time.
  • A good article will cover the who, the what, the when , the where, the why and the how .

    See also

    * since when

    Interjection

    (en interjection)
  • That's enough,
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • Derived terms

    * whenever

    Statistics

    *