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Luyện ngữ pháp - English Grammar in Use - Intermediate (Unit 119: For, during and while)


For, during and while

A

For and during

We use for + a period of time to say how long something goes on:
  • for two hours    for a week    for ages

    • We watched TV for two hours last night.
    • Jess is going away for a week in September.
    • Where have you been? I've been waiting for ages.
    • Are you going away for the weekend?

     

    We use during + noun to say when something happens (not how long):
    • during the movie
    • during our holiday
    • during the night
    • I fell asleep during 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' (for example: the morning / the afternoon / the summer), you can usually say in or during:
    • It must have rained in the night. or ... during the night.
    • I'll phone you sometime during the afternoon. or ... in the afternoon.

     

    You cannot use during to say how long something goes on:
    • It rained for three days without stopping. (not during three days)

     

    Compare during and for:
    • I fell asleep during the movie. I was asleep for half an hour.
    B

    During and while

    Compare:
    We use during + noun:
    • I fell asleep during the movie.
    • We met a lot of interesting people during our holiday.
    • Robert suddenly began to feel ill during the exam.
    		 We use while + subject + verb:
    • I fell asleep while I was watching TV.
    • We met a lot of interesting people while we were on holiday.
    • Robert suddenly began to feel ill while he was doing the exam.

     

    Some more examples of while:
    • 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 I watched TV.

     

    When you are talking about the future, use the present (not will) after while:
    • I'm going to Singapore next week. I hope to see some friends of mine while I'm there.(not while I will be there)
    • What are you going to do while you're waiting? (not while you'll be waiting)

    See also Unit 25.
    Exercises - 119.1


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