wéi (When in the Past)
When in the Past: Wéi
Wéi + verb at the end means when for one time in the past: Wéi ech kleng war, hunn ech zu Esch gewunnt. (When I was little, I lived in Esch.)
How It Works
1. One past moment or period
Use wéi when the when clause names something that happened once in the past, either a moment or a stretch of time:
- A moment: Wéi den Telefon geschellt huet, war ech an der Dusch. (When the phone rang, I was in the shower.)
- A period: Wéi ech jonk war, sinn ech ëmmer bei menger Boma an d'Vakanz gaangen. (When I was young, I always went on holiday to my grandma's.)
In the second example the holidays happened many times, but being young is one period of life, so wéi is right.
2. Word order
The verb goes to the end of the wéi clause, as in any subordinate clause. If the wéi clause comes first, the main clause starts with its verb: Wéi mer ukomm sinn, huet et gereent. See Starting With a Subordinate Clause.
3. Tenses
The wéi clause is in a past tense, most often the perfect or the simple past of sinn and hunn: wéi ech heemkomm sinn, wéi ech kleng war. For the event that was already finished first, use the pluperfect: Ech hat scho giess, wéi hien ukomm ass.
4. Three kinds of wéi
- Question word how: Wéi geet et? See How: Wéi.
- Comparison than, as: méi grouss wéi ech. See Comparing.
- Conjunction when: the one on this page. The verb at the end and the past tense show which one you have.
5. Wann or wéi?
For a comparison of the two, see When: Wann or Wéi?
Examples (6)
- Wéi ech kleng war, hunn ech zu Esch gewunnt.
When I was little, I lived in Esch.
Being little is one period of life, so wéi is used.
- Wéi mer ukomm sinn, huet et gereent.
When we arrived, it was raining.
The main clause starts with its verb huet, right after the comma.
- Et war scho spéit, wéi ech heemkomm sinn.
It was already late when I got home.
- Wéi den Telefon geschellt huet, war ech an der Dusch.
When the phone rang, I was in the shower.
- Wéi hatt 18 Joer al war, ass hatt op Bréissel geplënnert.
When she was 18, she moved to Brussels.
- Wéi ech jonk war, sinn ech ëmmer bei menger Boma an d'Vakanz gaangen.
When I was young, I always went on holiday to my grandma's.
The holidays were repeated, but the wéi clause names one period, so wéi is right.
Common Mistakes
Using wann for a single period in the past.
Wann ech kleng war, hunn ech zu Esch gewunnt.Wéi ech kleng war, hunn ech zu Esch gewunnt.Childhood is one period in the past, so it takes wéi. Wann is for the present, the future and repeated events.
Leaving the verb in the middle of the wéi clause.
Wéi ech war kleng, hunn ech zu Esch gewunnt.Wéi ech kleng war, hunn ech zu Esch gewunnt.Wéi as a conjunction sends the verb to the end of its clause.
Putting the subject first after the wéi clause.
Wéi mer ukomm sinn, et huet gereent.Wéi mer ukomm sinn, huet et gereent.The wéi clause fills the first place, so the main verb huet comes right after the comma.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Before When in the Past: Wéi, learn If and When: Wann and Perfect Tense With Hunn.
Related Patterns
- wann or wéiWhen: Wann or Wéi?
Compares the two words for when.
Level 3 - wéiniWhen: Wéini
The question word for when.
Level 1 - wéiHow: Wéi
The same word as the question word how.
Level 1 - Starting With a Subordinate Clause
Explains the word order after the wéi clause.
Level 3 - Pluperfect: hat / war + ParticipleThe Pluperfect: Hat or War + Participle
Often used for an event that came before the wéi clause.
Level 3
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice wéi (When in the Past) in Bubblegum
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