what is the difference between "when" and "what time"?
what is the difference between "when"and "what time"? it is so hard for students to understand..

Question

Answer

thank you so much .

Answer

When is a 'generalization' of 'what time' and allows a more flexible answer; moreover it usually doe not want a 'too precise' answer.

Example:

q1 -- when did you study German ?
a1 -- in my childhood.
a2 -- between 2 pm of Jan 3 1990 and 8 pm of Dec 20 1993

(a1) and (a2) say the same thing, but
(a2) contains a precise 'what time' answer, but usually this level of detail is
not required by a question of the kind 'when' ?

Answer

When is related to time. for example: When are you leaving? in the afternoon
what time is related to time of clock. for example : what time are you leaving? at 5 P.M

Answer

It depends on the sentence. In sentences they're interchangeable like this one:

What time are you going to the store?
When are you going to the store?

In others you must use when. Especially when you're speaking in past tense.

When did you buy that? (You can't use what time)
When was the last time the Dallas Cowboys won a Super Bowl?