How to Use 'When' and 'While'
2021-05-15
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1Question:
2Tony from China writes,
3Hi! I am an English learner from China.
4I want to know the difference between when and while. Thanks! Tony, China.
5 (Answer) Dear Tony,
6This is a very interesting question, because both words are what grammar experts call "subordinating conjunctions."
7That means we use them to connect subordinating clauses to the main clause of a sentence.
8A subordinating clause is a part of a sentence that adds additional information to the main clause.
9Here is an example:
10I read Tony's email when I started work today.
11The main clause is "I read Tony's email."
12The additional information is "when I started work today."
13 The subordinating conjunction "when" tells us that the time of the second event was almost at the same time or very close to the time of the first event.
14Note that both these actions - "start" and "read" are single actions, using verbs in the simple past tense.
15That is an important thing to remember as we look for the difference between "when" and "while."
16 (While) Now, look at this example:
17While I was making lunch, the phone rang.
18Here, the first action is in the present continuous tense.
19That means the action, making lunch, took place over a period of time.
20The main clause, "the phone rang" is in the simple past tense, and it is a single action taking place at a point in time.
21 (When) The order of the events in a sentence with subordinating conjunctions can affect the choice of "when" or "while.
22If we change the order of our example above, we get:
23When the phone rang, I was making lunch.
24Here, the conjunction "when" is in the clause with the single action, "the phone rang."
25So as a general rule, you should use "while" in a clause with a continuous action, using a verb in a continuous tense.
26Use "when" in a clause with a single action, using a simple past or present tense.
27If you have a question for our staff of teachers, send it by email to learningenglish@voanews.com.
28And that's Ask a Teacher!
29I'm Jill Robbins.
1Question: 2Tony from China writes, 3Hi! I am an English learner from China. I want to know the difference between when and while. Thanks! 4Tony, China. 5Answer: 6Dear Tony, 7This is a very interesting question, because both words are what grammar experts call "subordinating conjunctions." That means we use them to connect subordinating clauses to the main clause of a sentence. A subordinating clause is a part of a sentence that adds additional information to the main clause. Here is an example: 8I read Tony's email when I started work today. 9The main clause is "I read Tony's email." The additional information is "when I started work today." The subordinating conjunction "when" tells us that the time of the second event was almost at the same time or very close to the time of the first event. 10Note that both these actions - "start" and "read" are single actions, using verbs in the simple past tense. That is an important thing to remember as we look for the difference between "when" and "while." 11While 12Now, look at this example: 13While I was making lunch, the phone rang. 14Here, the first action is in the present continuous tense. That means the action, making lunch, took place over a period of time. The main clause, "the phone rang" is in the simple past tense, and it is a single action taking place at a point in time. 15When 16The order of the events in a sentence with subordinating conjunctions can affect the choice of "when" or "while. If we change the order of our example above, we get: 17When the phone rang, I was making lunch. 18Here, the conjunction "when" is in the clause with the single action, "the phone rang." 19So as a general rule, you should use "while" in a clause with a continuous action, using a verb in a continuous tense. Use "when" in a clause with a single action, using a simple past or present tense. 20If you have a question for our staff of teachers, send it by email to learningenglish@voanews.com. 21And that's Ask a Teacher! 22I'm Jill Robbins. 23Jill Robbins wrote this lesson for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. 24________________________________________________________________ 25Words in This Story 26lunch - n. a light meal eaten in the middle of the day 27guitar - n, a musical instrument that is held against the front of your body and that has usually six strings which are played with your fingers or with a pick 28Here are some practice clauses for you to connect with "when" or "while:" 29Write the answers in the comments section.