When vs while/help

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When vs while/help
Message from sabrina1011 posted on 20-09-2013 at 06:00:48 (D | E | F)
Hello,

What are the differences between when and while in time clauses?
Thank you for any response!
Sabrina

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Edited by lucile83 on 20-09-2013 07:53

Re: When vs while/help from camellia4, posted on 23-09-2013 at 02:46:21 (D | E)
Hello

You can use while or when for the present while the action is continuous
While I read I eat chocolate or when I read I eat chocolate
While I go to America my friend minds my dog

You can use when or while for something that happened continuously over a period of time in the past
When I was young my family often moved or while I was young my family often moved.
When I went to America my friends looked after my dog or while I went to America my friends looked after my dog
When I read I ate chocolate
You cannot say: while I went to America I found my friends..you have to use while + present: While I was in America I found my friends.

For the future you use when not while if both the actions have not happened yet
when I go to America I will find my friends
When I read (indicating the future) I will eat chocolate
You can use while if only the resulting action is happening in the future
While I am in America I will find my friends
While I am reading I will eat chocolate

Hope this helps

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Edited by lucile83 on 23-09-2013 08:09

Re: When vs while/help from simplicius, posted on 23-09-2013 at 08:28:52 (D | E)
Hello,

There's a difference in meaning between when and while, which is very well explained here
Link

(bbc worldservice website).
Cheers
simplicius

Re: When vs while/help from lucile83, posted on 23-09-2013 at 08:30:52 (D | E)
Hello camellia,

What do you mean here?
You cannot say: while I went to America I found my friends..you have to use while + present: While I was in America I found my friends.
You wrote 'present' but you used 'was'...I think you meant that we have to use 'to be', which would make sense.

Another thing: you didn't use the continuous form.
You can use while or when for the present while the action is continuous
While I read I eat chocolate or when I read I eat chocolate
While I go to America my friend minds my dog
It could/should write:
while/when I am reading I eat chocolate
While/when I am going/visiting America my friend minds my dog

Could you clarify your explanations please so that they are more precise to students?
Best regards.

Re: When vs while/help from sabrina1011, posted on 25-09-2013 at 09:59:52 (D | E)
Thank you for your answers!
Sabrina

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Edited by lucile83 on 25-09-2013 11:30

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