When vs.

While
Indicate same-time activities
https://www.grammar-quizzes.com/adv_whenwhile.html

In Context

My wife gave birth to our daughter last night. Our little baby girl was napping when I phoned my family. I was staring at her little face while I
was holding her. She was sleeping so peacefully.

When I called home, my brother picked up the phone. We were talking while my mother was listening in on our conversation. My brother said
that she had tears in her eyes while I was talking about the birth.

Same-time Events

WHEN
When + clause relates an activity that occurs at the same time as or slightly before the activity in the main clause. The clause following when
may express (1) a short interruption, or (2) a response to the activity in the first clause. " X occurs, Y results." Typically, the verb in the when-
clause is non-progressive and expresses an activity with shorter duration.
INTERRUPTION—AT THE MOMENT
When you called, he was holding his newborn baby.

RESPONSE—IMMEDIATELY AFTER
When you called, he picked up his phone.

WHILE
While + clause relates an activity that occurs at the same-time as (simultaneously with) the activity in the main clause. The clause following
while includes a verb with a meaning and/or a tense that expresses duration. The while-clause often expresses a background activity to the focus-
activity in the main clause.
SAME TIME—SOMETIME DURING THE TIME
While he was talking, he was holding his newborn baby. (held)

SAME TIME—DURING THE TIME

While he was talking, his baby slept. (was sleeping)
When and while are "temporal" prepositions which are complemented (completed) by a time-related clause. (Huddleston, et. al. 700) When and
while, along with several other adverbs, were reanalyzed (2002) as prepositions. At the same time, the complements that could follow a
preposition were widened to include: a noun, noun phrase, gerund, infinitive, clause and more. See Prepositional Complements. In effect, we
have a clause within a prepositional phrase! He was holding his baby [PP while [Cls you were talking.]] Also see While / When -ing "Reducing
time-relative clauses"

When has four meanings:

1. interruption—He was holding his newborn baby when you called. ("called" ["rang up"] —short duration² )
2. same time—He was holding his newborn baby when (or while) he was talking on the phone. ("was talking" —longer duration³)
3. immediately after (in response)—When you called, he picked up his phone. ("called" and "picked up"—short duration)
4. anytime / whenever—When he has a question, he calls the doctor. (cause effect) See If v. When.

While has two meanings:

1. same time—He was holding his newborn baby while (or when) he was talking on the phone. (was talking — duration [process verb])
2. contrast—While some fathers are uncomfortable holding newborns, others are not. "whereas"

Long or short duration may be expressed by the meaning of the verb:

1. duration (process) such as talk, walk, eat, sleep, cook, study. (nonprogressive form) (See Verbs of Short and Long Duration)
2. short duration (punctual) such as bark, jump, clap, sneeze, gulp, begin, end, fall (nonprogressive form).

Long or short duration may be expressed by the tense of the verb:

1. duration (process) He has been calling you all day. That dog is barking. (progressive form) The dog barked. (habitually) (See Present,
Past, Present Perfect.)
2. short duration (punctual) He called (rang). The dog barked. (once) (nonprogressive form) (See Past.)

See and Verb Meaning & Timing, Verbs of Short and Long Duration, and Duration vs Completion (process v. accomplishment).
When / While
Foreground vs. Background Activity
When—interruption vs. While—another ongoing activity

INTERRUPTION
Imagine a movie scene with a lot of people talking in a room, and then the camera zooms in on one person. The person becomes the subject of
the foreground and the other people and activity move into the background. In a similar way, when focuses on an interrupting activity. Follow-
up comments tend to focus on the foreground activity.
BACKGROUND FOREGROUND–INTERRUPTION
FOCUS FOR CONVERSATION
when the phone rang.
He was holding his baby
Who called?
when the baby yawned.
He was counting the babies fingers
How cute!
when the baby was born.
Everyone quieted down
What a moment!
ANOTHER ONGOING ACTIVITY
Both when and while can be followed by a clause that draws attention to another ongoing activity that is the central focus. The verb in the while
clause is mostly progressive, expressing repetitive or detailed activities. The verb in the when clause is mostly nonprogressive, expressing an
activity without particular focus on duration.
BACKGROUND FOREGROUND–SAME TIME
FOCUS FOR CONVERSATION
He was holding his baby while we were discussing names.

What names do you like?

 when/while they were still living in a small apartment in the city.
They were trying to raise a baby
So did they move to a house?
when he was born.

The baby's gender (sex) was revealed Were they surprised?

backgrounding (Ger) – a grammatical term for moving something out of central focus and into a position of less focus (less importance or less
interest).
come up with (Phrasal Verb) – think of, put together, call to mind
conceive (V) – begin life (also, to form a notion, an opinion, a purpose, an idea)
interruption (N) – a stop or break in the middle of an activity; a discontinuance; interference with action or speech
reveal (V) – announce publicly, make known to all
tends to be (V Expr.) – is more likely to be; is more expected to be
yawn (V) (N) – an involuntary action of opening the mouth widely and taking air into the lungs

When
Express same-time v. immediately after
When—"at the same time" vs. "immediately after"

ABOUT THE SAME TIME

When + clause relates an activity that occurs slightly before or at the same time as the activity in the main clause. Depending on the verb tense, the
clause following when may express a routine or a one-time response to the activity in the main clause. "X occurs, Y results." The verb in the when
clause is mostly non-progressive and expresses an activity without focusing on its duration.
FIRST ACTIVITY SECOND ACTIVITY
PP + CLAUSE MAIN CLAUSE
When I call, (present form) the doctor comes. (present)

"anytime this occurs" (routine) "this occurs"

When I called, (past) the doctor came. (past)

"at the time this occurred" (1-time) "this occurred"

When I call, (present form) the doctor will come. (prediction)

IMMEDIATELY AFTER
When + clause may also relate an activity that occurs just before the activity in the main clause. Depending on the verb tense, the clause following
when may express a routine or a one-time response to the activity in the main clause. The verb in the when clause is mostly non-progressive and
expresses an activity of short duration¹; that is, the timing of the activity has a clear beginning and end.
FIRST ACTIVITY SECOND ACTIVITY
PP + CLAUSE MAIN CLAUSE
When the doctor comes in, I ask her questions. (present)

"anytime this occurs" (routine) "this occurs immediately after"

When the doctor came in, I asked her questions. (past)

"at the time this occurred" (1-time) "this occurred"

When the doctor comes in, I will asked her questions. (prediction)

* not used (not logical) / ~ requires a special context for use

duration verb "atelic"
¹ short duration verbs —See Duration vs Completion "telic".
when (connective preposition)—See Connective Prepositions (for a description)
Also see If vs. When or When vs. While.
(Huddleston 8 §6.4 [29])
See Grammar Notes below for details about grammar terms.

When / While
As, During Throughout, Meanwhile
Other expressions for when and while

WHEN
SAME-TIME¹
We were eating at the moment he called.

We were eating when he called.

We were eating at the time he called. (point, instant)

We were eating when he called.

We were eating whenever he called. (any time)
We were eating when he called.
IMMEDIATELY AFTER²
We stopped eating upon receiving his call.

We stopped eating when we received his call.

We stopped eating just as he called.

We stopped eating when he called

We complained immediately after he called.

We complained when he called.

We complained shortly after he called.

We complained when he called

WHILE
SAME-TIME
We were eating dinner as he was talking / talked on his phone.

We were eating dinner while he was…

During the time that we were eating dinner, he was talking / talked on his phone.
While we were eating…
He was talking / talked on his phone throughout the time that we were eating.
He was talking while we were eating.

He was talking / talked on his phone at the same time that we were eating.
He was talking / talked on his phone. Meanwhile, we were eating.
He was talking / talked on his phone during the time that we were eating.
He was talking / talked on his phone all the while we were eating. (expression)
Punctuation
Commas
Initial vs. Final Clause Placement

INITIAL CLAUSE PLACEMENT

Initial placement of a when phrase/clause requires a comma to separate it from the main clause.
WHEN + CLAUSE MAIN CLAUSE
When you called, he was watching his baby.
While he was talking, he was holding his newborn.
FINAL CLAUSE PLACEMENT

No comma is used if the when phrase/clause is placed after the main clause.
MAIN CLAUSE WHEN + CLAUSE
He was watching his baby when you called.
He was holding his newborn while he was talking.
Traditional grammar analyzes this structure (e.g. when you called) as an "adverbial clause". Current linguistic research analyzes this structure as
a prepositional phrase; it places "when" in the category of Preposition (i.e. when [prep] you called [clause]). See Grammar Notes below.

newborn (N) — a very young baby (first few days)

The background activity is expressed in the independent clause.

Common Mistakes
Errors and Solutions
Error and Solution

ERROR
* While he called me, he was driving to work.

Use while before the activity of longer duration (the background activity).
*While he is watching television, she does not.

Background activity is expressed, but focus activity is unclear.

SOLUTION
When he called me, he was driving to work. (interruption)

While he was driving to work, he called me. (background activity)

While driving, he called me. (reduced clause)

While he is watching television, she isn't able to (can't) read.

While he watches television, she does something else.

(Complete the focus activity.)

*not used

See When / While -ing (reduced clauses, verbless clauses)

► Show Grammar Notes and Works Cited

Practice
Simultaneous Activities
Complete the sentence with when and while.

1. Select the response from the list that best completes the sentence.
2. Compare your response to the feedback by clicking the "Check" or "Check 1-10" button.

simultaneous (Adj) — same time

1.
I was making dinner. My sister was watching television.

my sister was watching television.

Feedback 1

2.
We were watching the movie called "King Kong". A friend came over.
We were watching the movie called "King Kong"
Feedback 2

3.
We were watching the movie. We were laughing about its unlikely plot (story).
we were laughing about its unlikely plot .

unlikely plot (expression) — seemingly impossible events that form a story

Feedback 3

4.
The movie ended. We turned off the TV.

we turned off the TV.

Feedback 4

5.
I was talking on the phone. My friend was reading magazines.

my friend was reading magazines.

Feedback 5

6.
My friend stood up to leave. It was midnight.

it was midnight.
Feedback 6

7.

He touched the door knob. (first activity) We heard a thud on the roof. (second activity)

we heard a thud on the roof.

thud (N) — loud heavy sound

Feedback 7

8.
He looked at me. (first activity) I said, "King Kong?" (second activity)

I said, "King Kong?"

Feedback 8

9.
He opened the front door. (first activity) We saw nothing but leaves and branches. (second activity)
We saw nothing but leaves and branches
Feedback 9

10.
Morning came. (first activity) A truck lifted our "King Kong" off the roof. (second activity)

a truck lifted our "King Kong" off the roof.

Feedback 10
Practice 2
Dependent on Devices

Read for Errors

Psychologists have a growing concern with iPhone and other smart-phone dependence. People are interacting with their phones when they could
be interacting with people. Teens and adults are engaging in addictive behavior such as checking their phones when they are having face-to-face
conversations. Some teens are using words such as LOL, BRB while they are talking with friends. Some people report that they feel "naked"
while they forget their phones or somehow become separated from the device.

Many cannot sleep while their phones are next to their beds. A number of people report checking email in movie theaters when they are
supposed to be engaged in the movie. Other people have admitted to doing things on their phones while they were driving or operating heavy
equipment. Unfortunately, a distracted driver is often unable to disengage fast enough when an accident is about to happen. Is it a sign of the
times, or just bad behavior?

addictive (Adj) — a habit that turns to a need

admit to (V) — say with difficulty or embarrassment that something is true

dependence (N) — the state of relying on or needing someone or something for aid, support

concern (N) — worry

device (N) a mobile device: smart-phone, tablet, iPad, iPod, etc.

disengage (V) — free or release one's attention to something

engage (V) — occupy the attention of a person

naked (Adj) — without clothing

psychologist (N) — doctors who study the mind and human behavior

used to be (V) — past custom

"Do you sleep with your iPhone?" AppAdvice. 26 Jul 2011. http://appadvice.com/appnn/2011/07/do-you-sleep-with-your-iphone-psychologists-
worry-about-this-new-addiction. Accessed on 19 Aug. 2016.

Correct or Incorrect?

1. Select your response—correct or incorrect.

2. Compare your response to the feedback by clicking the "Check" or "Check 11-18" button.

11.
People are interacting with their phones when they could be interacting with people.

Correct Incorrect
Feedback 11

12.
Teens and adults are engaging in addictive behavior such as checking their phones when they are having face-to-face conversations.

Correct Incorrect
Feedback 12

13.
Some teens are using words such as LOL and BRB while they are talking with friends.

Correct Incorrect
Feedback 13

14.
Some people report that they feel "naked" while they forget their phones or somehow become separated from the device.

Correct Incorrect
Feedback 14
15.
M any cannot sleep while their phones are next to their beds.

Correct Incorrect
Feedback 15

16.
A number of people report checking email in movie theaters when they are supposed to be engaged in the movie.

Correct Incorrect
Feedback 16

17.
Other people have admitted to doing things on their phones when they were driving or operating heavy equipment.

Correct Incorrect
Feedback 17

18.
Unfortunately, a distracted driver is often unable to disengage fast enough when an accident is about to happen.

Correct Incorrect
Feedback 18

Grammar-Quizzes › Connectors › Connective Prepositions › When vs. While

Also see Present-Time-Relative.

Julie Sevastopoulos (contact) — ESL / ELL / TEFL — English Grammar Reference / Resource – Practices & Exercises – Palo Alto, California
USA — 21 Jan 2019

Grammar Quizzes by Julie Sevastopoulos is licensed for use under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 International.