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Prepositions and Conjunctions of Time – for / during / while / when
For shows how long something happened. It is used to refer to a period of time. For example
We’re ging to live in Malta for 6 months
She’s in New York for a few days
We went to Saudi Arabia for a week
Both during and while refer to a period of time in which something happens. For example
My phone rang while I was in a meeting
My phone rang during the meeting
During is used with a noun or noun phrase. For example
We were busy during the weekend
During the night the cat woke me up
The Athenians suffered heavy losses during the battle of Salamis
While is used with a subject and verb. For example
– We went shopping while you were sleeping
You shouldn’t eat while you are in the library
While I was working I got an email from Tamara
When and while can both be used when two things happen at the same time
When two continuous actions happen at the same time, we usually use while. For example
While you were studying I went out shopping
Studying and shopping are actions
When two short events happen at the same time, we use when. For example
"When I saw you I didn’t recognize you"
I saw you and I didn’t recognize you are individual events
I heard you when you opened the door
In this situation while is incorrect. For example
"While I saw you I didn’t recognize you"
When one continuous background situation occurs and one
shorter event occurs at the same time, when and while can both be used. For example
"When I was in Rome I met my wife "
"While I was in Rome I met my wife"
"I cut myself while I was ng dinner"
"I cut myself when I was ng dinner"
The position of while and when clauses is interchangeable with
usually little difference in meaning
Don’t forget to lock the door when you go out
When you go out don’t forget to lock the door
We’re still growing while other businesses are losing clients
While other businesses are losing clients, we’re still growing
