Page 292 - Oxford_English_Grammar_Course_Basic_2015

for, during and while

For + period tells you how long. During tells you when.

The journey lasted for three days. There was a rainstorm during the night.
I slept for 20 minutes during the lesson.

^ Put in for or during.

1 I lived in Mexico...............................six years.

2 I got a headache..............................the examination.
3 We visited Kyoto................................our holiday in Japan.
4 The electricity went o ff...............................two hours..................................the afternoon.
5 Alex and his wife m e t...............................the war.
6 Could I talk to y o u ................................a few minutes?

7 I usually get a lot of phone calls................................the morning.
8 She and her boyfriend have been together................................a long time.

Du ring is a preposition: we use durin g + noun.
While is a conjunction: we use while + su b je c t + ve rb (often past progressive - see page 52).
They got into the house d u rin g the night. They got into the house w hile I was asleep.
He g o t ill d u rin g the journey. He g o t ill w hile he was travelling.

^ Change the expressions.
► during the meal [I/e a t) ..y^hkeJ . . ..........................................................

► while I was travelling {journey) .......................................................

1 during the game {th e y/p la y) ..................................................................................................
2 while we were listening (lesson) .................................................................................................
3 while they were fighting (war) .................................................................................................
4 during her lesson {she/teach) .................................................................................................

5 during his speech {he/speak) .................................................................................................
6 during the conversation {th e y /ta lk ) .................................................................................................
7 while she was in hospital {illness) .................................................................................................
8 during the snowstorm {it/s n o w ) .................................................................................................

0 GRAMMAR AND VOCABULARY: useful expressions w ith for
Look at the expressions in the box, and choose suitable ones to complete the sentences.
Different answers are possible.

fora moment for a minute or two for a few minutes for an hour or so (='about an hour')

fora couple of hours for a long time forages for years and years forever for life

1 They w aited.......................................................................... but the bus didn't come.

2 I will love y o u .......................................................................
3 Could I talk to y o u ..........................................................................?
4 I played tennis...........................................................................and then went home.
5 I went to sleep......................................................................... during the opera.
6 She usually stops work at 11 o'clock...........................................................................and has a cup of coffee.
7 I often watch T V ...........................................................................before I go to bed.
8 They put him in prison.........................................................................

In some answers, both contracted forms (for example I'm, don't) and full PREPOSITIONS 277
forms (for example lam, do not) are possible. Normally both are correct.