As, when or while?
As, when and while are conjunctions. In some uses as, when and while can
mean the same, but they can also have slightly different meanings. We use
them to introduce subordinate clauses.
We can use as, when and while to mean ‘during the time that’, to connect
two events happening at the same time:
Another coach-load of people arrived as we were leaving.
We often use them with the past continuous to refer to background events:
When the men were out working in the field, I helped with milking the cows,
feeding the calves and the pigs.
While he was working, he often listened to music.
We can put clauses with as, when and while before or after the main clause.
When they come before the main clause, we use a comma:
As she was leaving the court, a crowd of photographers gathered around
her. (before the main clause, followed by a comma)
Steven was very unhappy when things weren’t going well for him.
Lucy came into the room while he was waiting.
As
We can use as to introduce two events happening at the same time. After as,
we can use a simple or continuous form of the verb. The continuous form
emphasizes an action that interrupts or occurs during the progress of another
action:
As she walked to the door, she thanked them for a lovely dinner.
As they were signing the contract, they noticed that a page was missing.
When
We can use when to introduce a single completed event that takes place in
the middle of a longer activity or event. In these cases, we usually use a
continuous verb in the main clause to describe the background event:
He was walking back to his flat when he heard an explosion.
Depending on the context, when can mean ‘after’ or ‘at the same time’.
Compare
When you open the file, check the
when meaning ‘after’
second page.
I eat ice cream when I am on when meaning ‘at the same
holiday. time’
We often use just with when or as to express things happening at exactly the
same time:
The phone always rings just when I’m closing the front door.
She was a brilliant gymnast, but she had a terrible accident in 1999, just
as her career was taking off.
While and as
We can use while or as to talk about two longer events or activities happening
at the same time. We can use either simple or continuous verb forms:
We spent long evenings talking in my sitting-room while he played the music
he had chosen and explained his ideas.
We were lying on the beach sunbathing as they were playing volleyball.
When and while without a subject
We can use when and while without a verb, or without a subject + auxiliary
verb be:
Go past the village signpost and you get to a church. When there, take the
next turning right. (formal)
He read his book while waiting for the bus. (while he was waiting)
Examples of the Differences between When and
While
In English, these two words sometimes add the same meaning to the
sentence. Therefore, while and when are not always interchangeable.
Depending on the difference between while and when topic, we can say
that:
If the action is currently in progress, you should use ‘while’.
If the action is a one-time action and does not continue, you should
use ‘when’.
Let’s give examples now:
I am sitting while she is standing.
Let’s look at the sentence. Both verbs in a sentence are a continuing
action. ‘She stands while I sit’ Both the sitting action and the standing
action continue as soon as the sentence is spoken. But;
He picked up the phone when you called.
In the sentence, there is no ongoing action and two one-time actions
occur in a row. ‘He answered the phone when you called’ so we use ‘when’
in this sentence. Depending on the difference between while and when
topic, we can give some examples:
They were working on the project while she was talking on the phone.
We sat down when she came.
He was sleeping while she was driving.
He left the room when Bob shouted.
Ongoing -Action and One-Time Action
But what if there is a recurring and one-time action? What should you do then?
Things can get messy, and you need to be careful here. If you are stating that there is
another action going on during a one-time action in the sentence, you need to pay
attention.
Depending on the difference between while and when topic, you should pay
attention to is this: If there is an ongoing action, while or when is used before it.
Which one you use is a matter of preference. But if there is a one-time action, when
is used before and while is not.
For example:
I fell to the ground while she was sleeping.
When should be used in the sentence. Because falling to the ground is not an
ongoing action. So you need to use the sentence as follows:
She was sleeping when I fell.
