“During” and “while” are used to indicate that another activity is happening at the same time. Although they are similar, they are not interchangeable.
Overview
| During | While |
| When something happens within a particular period of time | When two activities are happening at the same time. |
| “During” + noun | “While” + clause |
During
1. To state when something happens within a particular period of time.
“During” can mean:
– from the beginning to the end of a particular period of time.
– at some time between the beginning and end of a particular period of time.
- “We bumped into friends a few times during our vacation.”
2. “During” + noun
As a preposition, “during” is followed by a noun.
Here, an activity (noun) is happening at the same time but it also represents the length of time.
- “I heard someone’s phone go off during the concert.”
- “Babies will wake up a few times during the night.”
It is incorrect to use a specific amount of time.
- “I slept during the movie.”
Not – “I slept while the movie.”
Not – “I slept during two hours.”
Similar prepositions: “For” or “During”
If you want to say how long or the specific amount of time something happened, you would use “for” instead.
- “I slept for two hours.”
- “We stayed for several nights.”
While
1. To describe two activities happening at the same time.
“While” can mean:
– during that time.
– at the same time as.
- “I was listening to music while I was cooking.”
- “We went to the NGV while we were in Melbourne.”
2. “While” + clause or “While” + [subject + verb]
As a conjunction, “while” is followed by a clause (subject + verb).
Although “during” is in the definition of “while,” the clause describes the activity that is happening at the same time.
- “I slept while my husband was watching a movie.”
Not – “I slept while the movie.”
Not – “I slept during my husband was watching a movie.”
- “You shouldn’t drink or eat sushi while you’re pregnant.”
Original posts: 18 April 2021
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