What vs. When — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 8, 2024
"What" is used to inquire about the nature or identity of something, whereas "when" asks about the time or occasion.
Difference Between What and When
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
"What" is a question word used to elicit information about the nature, identity, or description of something or someone. It seeks details about objects, concepts, or persons, asking for specifics like type, purpose, or characteristics. Conversely, "when" is concerned exclusively with timing, focusing on dates, times, durations, or sequences of events.
While "what" can initiate a wide range of inquiries—from simple identification to complex explanations, "when" specifically targets the temporal aspects, narrowing its focus to the chronological context of an event.
For instance, asking "What happened?" seeks an explanation of events, while "When did it happen?" seeks the specific time those events occurred. This distinction highlights the difference between seeking qualitative information ("what") and temporal information ("when").
In use, "what" often precedes nouns or verbs to form inquiries like "What is this?" or "What are you doing?", while "when" can stand alone or with a verb, such as "When are you leaving?".
Comparison Chart
Function
Inquires about nature or identity.
Inquires about time or occasion.
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Focus
Nature, identity, description.
Timing, date, duration, sequence.
Example Questions
What is your name? What does this do?
When is the meeting? When did you go?
Usage
Can be used with objects, actions, ideas.
Used with events, actions, schedules.
Information Sought
Qualitative details.
Temporal details.
Compare with Definitions
What
Involved in forming a question about choice or options.
What ice cream flavors do you have?
When
Asks for specifics about the timing related to an occurrence.
When is the best time to plant tomatoes?
What
Indicates a request for explanation or specific details.
What does this button do?
When
Used to ask about the time at which something happens.
When does the train leave?
What
Used to inquire about the nature or identity of an object or concept.
What kind of bird is that?
When
Used to specify conditions linked to time.
Call me when you get home.
What
Used to ask for information about something.
What is your favorite color?
When
Inquires about the duration or timing of an event.
When were you at the store?
What
Used to express surprise or confusion about something.
What? I can't believe that happened!
When
Involved in questioning the sequence of events.
When did you hear about the decision?
What
Asking for information specifying something
What is your name?
I'm not sure what you mean
When
At what time
When will we leave?.
What
The thing or things that (used in specifying something)
What we need is a commitment
When
At the time that
In the spring, when the snow melts.
What
(in exclamations) emphasizing something surprising or remarkable
What some people do for a crust!
When
As soon as
I'll call you when I get there.
What
Asking for information specifying something
Do you know what excuse he gave?
What time is it?
When
Whenever
When the wind blows, all the doors rattle.
What
(referring to the whole of an amount) whatever
He had been robbed of what little money he had
When
During the time at which; while
When I was young, I was sick all the time.
What
(in exclamations) how great or remarkable
What a fool she was
What luck!
When
Whereas; although
She stopped short when she ought to have continued.
What
To what extent?
What does it matter?
When
Considering that; if
How can he get good grades when he won't study?.
What
Used to indicate an estimate or approximation
See you, what, about four?
When
The time or date
Have they decided the where and when?.
What
Used for emphasis or to invite agreement
Pretty poor show, what?
When
(interrogative) At what time? At which time? Upon which occasion or circumstance? Used to introduce direct or indirect questions about time.
When will they arrive?
Do you know when they arrived?
I don't know when they arrived.
When they arrived is unknown.
What
Which one or ones of several or many
What college are you attending? You should know what musical that song is from.
When
At an earlier time and under different, usually less favorable, circumstances.
He's mister high and mighty now, but I remember him when.
What
Whatever
They soon repaired what damage had been done.
When
(relative) At which, on which, during which: often omitted or replaced with that.
That was the day when the Twin Towers fell.
What
How great; how astonishing
What a fool!.
When
(fused relative) The time at, on or during which.
I recall when they were called the Greys.
Next year is when we elect a new mayor.
What
How much; in what respect; how
What does it matter?.
When
A circumstance or situation in which.
Love is when you can't get enough of someone.
What
That
I don't know but what I'll go.
When
At (or as soon as) that time that; at the (or any and every) time that; if.
Pavlov's dogs salivate when [i.e. at any and every time that] they hear a bell.
Put your pencil down when [i.e. as soon as, at the moment that] the timer goes off.
A player wins when [as soon as, or at any time that, if] she has four cards of the same suit.
A student is disqualified when [as soon as, if] they cheat.
What
Used to express surprise, incredulity, or other strong and sudden excitement.
When
During the time that; at the time of the action of the following clause or participle phrase.
They dream when [i.e. during the time that] they sleep.
I'm happiest when [during the time that, or at any time that] I’m working.
It was raining when I came yesterday.
The game is over when the referee says it is.
Be careful when crossing the street.
When (you are) angry, count to ten before speaking or acting.
What
Chiefly British Used as a tag question, often to solicit agreement.
When
At what time; at which time.
I am here till Friday, when [i.e. at which time] I leave for Senegal.
What
(interrogative) Which, especially which of an open-ended set of possibilities.
What colour are you going to use?
What time is it?
What kind of car is that?
When
Since; given the fact that; considering that.
I don't see the point of putting up Christmas decorations when I am the only person who is going to see them.
What
(relative) Which; the ... that.
I know what colour I am going to use.
That depends on what answer is received.
When
Whereas; although; at the same time as; in spite of the fact that.
You're picking at your scabs when you should be letting them heal.
He keeps changing things when the existing system works perfectly well.
What
(relative) Any ... that; all ... that; whatever.
He seems to have lost what sense he had.
What money I earn is soon spent.
When
(interrogative) What time; which time.
Since when do I need your permission?
What
Emphasises that something is noteworthy or remarkable in quality or degree, in either a good or bad way; may be used in combination with certain other determiners, especially 'a', less often 'some'.
This shows what beauty there is in nature.
You know what nonsense she talks.
I found out what a liar he is.
When
The time at which something happens.
A good article will cover the who, the what, the when, the where, the why and the how.
What
Used to form exclamations.
What nonsense!
Wow! What a speech.
What some lovely weather we've been having!
What beautiful children you have.
With what passion she sings!
When
That's enough: a command asking someone to stop adding something, especially an ingredient or portion of food or drink; used in, or as if in, literal response to 'Say when'.
What
(interrogative) Which thing, event, circumstance, etc.: used in asking for the specification of an identity, quantity, quality, etc.
What is your name?
Ask them what they want.
When
(obsolete) Expressing impatience. what.}}
What
(fused relative) That which; those that; the thing(s) that.
He knows what he wants.
What is amazing is his boundless energy.
And, what's even worse, I have to work on Sunday too.
When
At what time; - used interrogatively.
When shall these things be?
What
(fused relative) Anything that; all that; whatever.
I will do what I can to help you.
What is mine is yours.
When
At what time; at, during, or after the time that; at or just after, the moment that; - used relatively.
Kings mayTake their advantage when and how they list.
Book lore ne'er served, when trial came,Nor gifts, when faith was dead.
What
That; which; who.
'Ere! There's that bloke what I saw earlier!
When
While; whereas; although; - used in the manner of a conjunction to introduce a dependent adverbial sentence or clause, having a causal, conditional, or adversative relation to the principal proposition; as, he chose to turn highwayman when he might have continued an honest man; he removed the tree when it was the best in the grounds.
What
(interrogative) In what way; to what extent.
What does it matter?
What do you care?
When
Which time; then; - used elliptically as a noun.
I was adopted heir by his consent;Since when, his oath is broke.
Come hither; mend my ruff:Here, when! thou art such a tedious lady!
When as sacred light began to dawn.
When that mine eye is famished for a look.
What
Used before a prepositional phrase to emphasise that something is taken into consideration as a cause or reason; usually used in combination with 'with' (see what with), and much less commonly with other prepositions.
When
As soon as;
Once we are home, we can rest
What
An expression of surprise or disbelief.
What! That’s amazing!
What
What do you want? An abrupt, usually unfriendly enquiry as to what a person desires.
What? I'm busy.
What
Clipping of what do you say? Used as a type of tag question to emphasise a statement and invite agreement, often rhetorically.
It’s a nice day, what?
What
What did you say? I beg your pardon?
— Could I have some of those aarrrrrr mmmm ...
— What?
— What?
What
Indicating a guess or approximation, or a pause to try to recall information.
I must have been, what, about five years old.
What
Something; thing; stuff.
What
(countable) The identity of a thing, as an answer to a question of what.
What
(countable) Something that is addressed by what, as opposed to a person, addressed by who.
What
As an interrogative pronoun, used in asking questions regarding either persons or things; as, what is this? what did you say? what poem is this? what child is lost?
What see'st thou in the ground?
What is man, that thou art mindful of him?
What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!
What
As an exclamatory word: - (a) Used absolutely or independently; - often with a question following.
What, could ye not watch with me one hour?
What
Used adjectively, meaning how remarkable, or how great; as, what folly! what eloquence! what courage!
What a piece of work is man!
O what a riddle of absurdity!
What
As a relative pronoun
What
Sometimes prefixed to adjectives in an adverbial sense, as nearly equivalent to how; as, what happy boys!
What partial judges are our love and hate!
What
Used substantively with the antecedent suppressed, equivalent to that which, or those [persons] who, or those [things] which; - called a compound relative.
With joy beyond what victory bestows.
I'm thinking Captain Lawton will count the noses of what are left before they see their whaleboats.
What followed was in perfect harmony with this beginning.
I know well . . . how little you will be disposed to criticise what comes to you from me.
What
Whatever; whatsoever; what thing soever; - used indefinitely.
Whether it were the shortness of his foresight, the strength of his will, . . . or what it was.
What
Used adjectively, equivalent to the . . . which; the sort or kind of . . . which; rarely, the . . . on, or at, which.
See what natures accompany what colors.
To restrain what power either the devil or any earthly enemy hath to work us woe.
We know what master laid thy keel,What workmen wrought thy ribs of steel.
What
Used adverbially, in part; partly; somewhat; - with a following preposition, especially, with, and commonly with repetition.
What for lust [pleasure] and what for lore.
Thus, what with the war, what with the sweat, what with the gallows, and what with poverty, I am custom shrunk.
The year before he had so used the matter that what by force, what by policy, he had taken from the Christians above thirty small castles.
What time the morn mysterious visions brings.
What
Used adverbially in a sense corresponding to the adjectival use; as, he picked what good fruit he saw.
What
Why? For what purpose? On what account?
What should I tell the answer of the knight.
But what do I stand reckoning upon advantages and gains lost by the misrule and turbulency of the prelates? What do I pick up so thriftily their scatterings and diminishings of the meaner subject?
What
Something; thing; stuff.
And gave him for to feed,Such homely what as serves the simple lown.
Common Curiosities
How does the use of "what" differ from "when" in professional settings?
In professional settings, "what" might focus on task details or objectives, whereas "when" would concern schedules or deadlines.
What does "when" usually inquire about?
"When" specifically inquires about the timing, date, or duration of an event.
Why is it important to choose between "what" and "when"?
Choosing correctly between "what" and "when" ensures that the question is clear and the desired information is obtained.
What does "what" usually inquire about in a conversation?
"What" usually inquires about the nature, identity, or description of something.
Is "what" or "when" more commonly used in daily conversation?
Both are commonly used, but "what" may be slightly more frequent due to its broader range of inquiry.
Can "what" and "when" be used interchangeably?
No, "what" and "when" serve different purposes and cannot be used interchangeably as they inquire about different types of information.
What kind of answers does "when" elicit?
"When" elicits answers that specify times, dates, or sequences.
Can "what" and "when" both be answered with a single response?
Sometimes, especially in narrative responses, both the nature of the event and its timing can be addressed in one answer, but usually, they prompt separate responses.
What kind of answers does "what" elicit?
"What" elicits answers that provide descriptions, identities, or explanations.
How does the context change the use of "what" and "when"?
The context can dictate whether more detail about identity (what) or time (when) is needed.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
