Grammar, compared
During vs while vs for
During and for both go with a period of time, but during needs a noun and for needs a number. While introduces a clause.
Book a trial classThe short answer
| During / for | While |
|---|---|
| I fell asleep during the meeting. (during + noun) | I fell asleep while the meeting was going on. (while + subject and verb) |
| We've lived here for five years. (for + a quantity of time) | She called me while I was having dinner. (a clause) |
| She called me during dinner. (a noun, an event) | We talked while we waited. (a clause, at the same time) |
How each one works
| Point | During | While | For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Followed by | A noun (an event or period) | A clause (subject plus verb) | A quantity of time (a number) |
| Example | during the flight | while we were flying | for three hours |
| Answers | When? (within what period) | When? (at the same time as what) | How long? |
| Common mistake | during three hours (wrong) | while the meeting (wrong, needs a verb) | for the meeting (wrong, needs a number) |
Watch out if you speak Spanish
- Durante in Spanish covers during and for, so check what follows: a noun needs during, a number needs for.
- Don't say during three hours. Say for three hours, since during needs a noun like the event, not a quantity.
- While always needs its own subject and verb: while I was waiting, not while the waiting.
- During answers when something happened inside a period; for answers how long something lasted.
Practice
Grammar practice
Choose or type the answer for each sentence, then check.
0 of 8 checked
Questions
- Why is during three hours wrong?
- During needs a noun that names an event or period, not a quantity. For three hours is correct because for goes with a number of time units.
- Can while and during replace each other?
- Not directly. While needs its own subject and verb: while I was sleeping. During needs just a noun: during my sleep. Check what follows before choosing.
Keep going
Want to practise this with Pili?
Book a trial class. She writes back with times in Buenos Aires time.
Book a trial class