When VS While
Some of you, my beloved students, have asked me to clarify the use of when and while. Well, you will see that it is very simple if you don't try to understand it trough rules. You must analyse the sentences through their context and not only through grammar tenses.
I read books when I am on holiday by the sea (meaning "at the same time").
I called the firefighters when I saw the flames in the forest (meaning "after").
When you open the file, check the second page (meaning "after").
She was fixing the TV when she realised it was unplugged! (meaning "at the same time").
As you can see, we have used when with many different tenses, but it always has two possible meanings. These are subordinate sentences. This means that there are two verbs in them and these two verbs may use different tenses (present simple + present simple / past continuous + past simple... etc.) You must analyse the context of the sentence and choose which meaning is the most suitable one.
Laura was sleeping while her partners were doing the school project (meaning "at the same time").
Hugo fainted while the doctor was choosing the needle (meaning "at the same time").
They spent two hours chatting while they were both in their beds (meaning "at the same time").
Again, we have used while with many combinations of tenses (past continuous + past continuous / past simple + past continuous... etc.) But this time only one meaning was possible: "at the same time". Again, you must trust the context to choose between when and while.
I hope this has solved your doubts. Remember that you have a printed worksheet I gave you on Friday the 13th. It was about combining past simple and past continuous and about the use of when and while. Apart from that worksheet, you all labelled in this post must do this new one in your notebook or you can print it and then do the exercises. Please remember to ask any doubts: antonioverde@iesitalica.org
Have a funny Holy Week and relax!
When
On the one hand, we have when. Take into account that when means both "at the same time" and "after". For example:I read books when I am on holiday by the sea (meaning "at the same time").
When you open the file, check the second page (meaning "after").
She was fixing the TV when she realised it was unplugged! (meaning "at the same time").
While
On the other hand, we have while. This word is quite easy, since it can only mean "at the same time". For example:
Laura was sleeping while her partners were doing the school project (meaning "at the same time").
Hugo fainted while the doctor was choosing the needle (meaning "at the same time").
Again, we have used while with many combinations of tenses (past continuous + past continuous / past simple + past continuous... etc.) But this time only one meaning was possible: "at the same time". Again, you must trust the context to choose between when and while.
I hope this has solved your doubts. Remember that you have a printed worksheet I gave you on Friday the 13th. It was about combining past simple and past continuous and about the use of when and while. Apart from that worksheet, you all labelled in this post must do this new one in your notebook or you can print it and then do the exercises. Please remember to ask any doubts: antonioverde@iesitalica.org
Have a funny Holy Week and relax!
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