For, During, and While
Choosing between for, during, and while to talk about periods of time and simultaneous events
During
Use during + noun to say when something happens. It means “at a time between the start and end of” something.
- I fell asleep during the meeting. (= at some point between the start and end of the meeting)
- We met some really nice people during our trip.
- The ground is wet. It must have rained during the night.
With time words like the morning, the night, the summer, you can use either in or during:
- It rained in the night. or It rained during the night.
- The garden is lovely in the summer. or … during the summer.
For
Use for + a period of time to say how long something goes on.
- We watched TV for two hours last night.
- Jess is going away for a week in September.
- I haven’t seen you for ages.
- Are you going away for the weekend?
Do not use during to say how long. Use for:
- It rained for three days without stopping. (not
during three days)
During vs. For
During answers “when?“. For answers “how long?“. Compare:
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| When did you fall asleep? | *During the movie.* |
| How long were you asleep? | *For half an hour.* |
During vs. While
Both describe something that happens inside another event, but the grammar is different.
| during + noun | while + subject + verb |
|---|---|
| I fell asleep during the movie. | I fell asleep while I was watching TV. |
| We met many people during our holiday. | We met many people while we were on holiday. |
| Robert felt ill during the exam. | Robert felt ill while he was doing the exam. |
More About While
Use while + subject + verb to describe two things happening at the same time.
- 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 Amy watched TV.
When you talk about the future, use the present tense after while (not will):
- I hope the weather will be good 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)
Quick Self-Check
It rained _____ three days without stopping.
Select your answer:
Production at the factory was seriously affected _____ the strike.
Select your answer:
Please don't interrupt me _____ I'm speaking.
Select your answer:
I hope the weather will be nice _____ we're on vacation.
Select your answer:
We hadn't eaten anything _____ eight hours, so we were starving when we arrived.
Select your answer: