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    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

    -------------------
    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

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




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