Time clauses with WHEN and WHILE

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  •  Action interrupted by another action

*** Note:

=> long action: use while + Past Continuous 

=> short action: use when + Past Simple

They were watching a movie when the phone rang.

While he was driving, the car broke down.

When the car hit him, he was walking.

 

  • Actions in progress at the same time

While Lidia was cleaning the house, Dan was cooking dinner.

Maria was reading while George was sleeping.

 

 *** NOTICE THE DIFFERENCE IN MEANING: 

1) When he came home, she cooked dinner. (he came home,  and she started cooking dinner after that)

 2) When he cam home, she was cooking dinner. (she started cooking dinner before he came home)

DURING vs. WHILE

 

  • We use “during “ to say when something happens

during + noun

            Example : Lidia used her computer during class.

 

  • We use “while” to talk about two simultaneous actions (two things happening at the same time)

while + subject + verb

            Example: Lidia was talking on the phone while her mother was driving.