Language reference

While is always used:

Time clauses
t
to show one action happening at the same time as
Time clauses start with words like when, while, as, before, another. It means ‘During the time that’ and it is often
after, until, as soon as. (but not always) used with continuous tenses:
3FGFSSJOH
UP
UIF
GVUVSF She kept a blog while she was travelling in Asia. (When
can also be used here.)
When a time clause describes an action in the future, use I’ll do the crossword while I’m waiting for you.
a present tense (present simple, present continuous or The postman delivered the parcel while I was washing the
present perfect), not a future tense: car. (My action lasted longer than the postman’s.)
While Dad heated the soup, I made some toast. (The two
when I MFBWF work. (not will leave)
actions occupied approximately the same length of time.)
I’ll call you when IN
MFBWJOH work. (not will be leaving)
when IWF
MFGU work. (not will have left) 0UIFS
UJNF
FYQSFTTJPOT
Note these differences: during
t
When she goes to Rome she stays with Carla. (= She does The preposition during is followed by a noun or noun
this every time she goes to Rome.) phrase. Use during:
When she goes to Rome she’ll stay with Carla (= She’ll go
there in the future and then she’ll stay with Carla.) t
to describe an action lasting for the whole of a time
period or event:
t
I’ll help you when you cook lunch. (= I’ll help you to cook Bears hibernate during the winter.
lunch.) The town was lit up during the festival.
I’ll help you when I’ve cooked lunch. (= First I’ll cook
lunch. Then I’ll help you.) t
to describe an action happening at some point within a
I’ll explain the problem while you’re cooking lunch (= I’ll time period or event:
explain. At the same time, you’ll be cooking lunch.) I’ll be spending a week in Prague during the summer.
Three players were given a red card during the match.
3FGFSSJOH
UP
UIF
QBTU meanwhile
t
I called him when my train got to the station. (= My train
Meanwhile is an adverb which comes at the beginning of a
arrived and immediately afterwards I called.)
sentence. Use meanwhile:
I called him when my train was getting to the station
(= I called while the train was in the process of arriving.) t
to introduce an action happening while another event,
I called him when the train had left the station. (= The mentioned in the previous sentence, takes/took place:
train left earlier. I called later.) Paz spent two hours this afternoon surfing the Internet.
Meanwhile, the rest of the family went for a long walk.
when
BOE
while t
to introduce an action happening between two times:
When is used: I’ll be home in half an hour. Meanwhile, (= between now
and then) could you prepare the vegetables?
t
to show one action happening at the same time as
another. It can mean ‘During the time that’ or ‘At the time
that’:
When we lived / were living in Wales, I rode my bike
everywhere. (While can also be used here.)
Our dog always barks when visitors come.
t
to show one action happening immediately after another,
and often as a result of it:
When I get some money I’ll buy a new jacket.
The snow melted when the sun came out.
t
to show an action interrupting or happening in the course
of another longer action:
He was playing squash when he injured his wrist.

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