Page 250 - English Grammar in Use

Unit
119 during for while

A during
during = at a time between the start and end of something:
I fell asleep during the movie. (= at a time between
the start and end of the movie)
We met some really nice people during our holiday.
The ground is wet. It must have rained during the night.
With ‘time words’ (the morning, the night, the summer etc.),
you can usually say in or during:
It rained in the night. or … during the night. I fell asleep during the movie.
It’s lovely here during the summer. or … in the summer.

B for and during
We use for (+ a period of time) to say how long something goes on:
We watched TV for two hours last night.
Jess is going away for a week in September.
How are you? I haven’t seen you for ages.
Are you going away for the weekend?
We do not use during to say how long something goes on. We do not say ‘during two hours’,
‘during five years’ etc. :
It rained for three days without stopping. (not during three days)
We use during to say when something happens (not how long). Compare during and for:
‘When did you fall asleep?’ ‘During the movie.’
‘How long were you asleep?’ ‘For half an hour.’

C during and while
Compare:

We use during + noun: We use while + subject + verb:

I fell asleep during the movie. I fell asleep while I was watching TV.
noun subject + verb
We met a lot of interesting people We met a lot of interesting people
during our holiday. while we were on holiday.

Robert suddenly began to feel ill Robert suddenly began to feel ill
during the exam. while he was doing the exam.

Some more examples of while:
ALEX AMY
We saw Clare while we were waiting for the bus.
While you were out, there was a phone
call for you.
Alex read a book while Amy watched TV.
When we are talking about the future, we use the present
aft er while. Do not use ‘will’ (see Unit 25):
I’m going to Moscow next week. I hope the weather
will be good while I’m there. (not while I will be)
What are you going to do while you’re waiting? Alex read a book while Amy
(not while you’ll be waiting)
watched TV.

238 for and since ➜ Unit 12A while + -ing ➜ Unit 68B