During vs For vs While - EnglishClass101

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Lesson Transcript

Hi, I'm Daphne, and welcome to today's lesson.

So today, we will be talking about the differences between during, for, and while.

So let's go over each one of them first, one by one.

The first is during.

So we use during with a noun to talk about when something happens.

So the question that you're answering is when.

And here I have written out the structure of how we should use it.

So we have a verb plus during plus a noun.

And right here, we have some examples.

And again, feel free to also include your own examples during your practice.

So the first example we have written is: some people got lost during the hike.

So when?

It was during the hike.

So while they were hiking, they had gotten lost.

Next, we have: I will finish this novel during the summer break.

So when?

summer break.

So maybe you have homework to do for school, and one of your homework assignments is to read a book, read a novel.

So you will finish, I will finish this novel during the summer break.

Next, we have, "I kept coughing during the exam." So when did that happen?

When did your coughing happen?

The exam, during the exam.

So following this structure of verb, the verb here is coughing.

Then we have during, and then the noun, which is the exam.

Next, we have "It rained during the night." So again, following this structure, the verb is rained, so raining.

Then we have during, and then the noun, which is the night.

So that's when the rain happened.

And then the last example I have written on the board is, "My phone rang during the meeting." So again, the verb here is rang, so your phone rang.

Then we have during, and then the noun, the meeting.

So when did the phone ring?

During the meeting.

So we use during to answer the question of when something happens, or when someone does something.

Next, we have for, and this is to answer the question of how long.

So we use for plus the length of time to say how long something happens.

So the structure I have written here is for plus length of time.

So here, I have some examples written out, and of course, there are more examples than what is on the board, but these are just several ones that I chose and have on the board.

So number one a long time.

So, you knew each other, or we have known each other, for a long time, and that is the length of time.

How long?

Then the next example is: I waited for an hour.

So, how long did you wait?

An hour.

Maybe you are waiting to see your doctor, or maybe you're at the amusement park in line for your favorite roller coaster.

How long did you wait?

An hour.

Next, we have: She has worked here for over ten years.

So, she has worked, and the question is for how long?

Over ten years.

So, that's quite a long time.

Maybe she's been at the company for quite some time, so she's worked here for over ten years.

Next, we have: I have lived in Spain for three years.

So, I lived in Spain, and then the question: how long?

for three years.

So in my case, I have lived in years.

Um, other people might have lived in other countries for other lengths of time.

Then the last example is I usually exercise So I usually exercise, and then how long?

For 30 minutes a day.

I wish I did that.

Sometimes I try to keep 30 minutes a day, but rarely if I don't have time, then I will skip.

Okay, moving on to the next word, while.

So while means something is happening else.

So we use while plus the subject, plus the verb, So the structure I have written out is while plus subject plus verb.

So these examples right here, Number one, I had breakfast while you were still sleeping.

So two things are happening at the same time.

I had breakfast, and the other thing happening is you were still sleeping.

So I had breakfast while you were still sleeping.

Next we have I always listen to music while I'm cleaning.

So I like to do this.

I have a whole cleaning playlist for when I need to completely clear out and declutter my room, my apartment, and I always listen to music while I'm cleaning.

So the two things happening at the same time are listening to music and cleaning.

So I always listen to music while I'm cleaning.

Some people might always listen to music while they are studying.

Some people find that that helps.

For me, not so much, but to each their own.

The next example we have is she called while I was cooking.

So maybe I am ferociously trying to make dinner.

So somebody called, but I might have missed the call.

calling me while I was cooking.

So the next example we have here is don't use your phone while you are driving.

And this is very important.

So the two things happening here are using your phone and driving.

And this is what you should not do, to the roads.

So don't use your phone while you are driving.

Next, and the final example we have is, can you wash the dishes while I take a shower?

Maybe this is something your parents, your mom might ask you to do.

had a long day unwind, a shower, so she is asking you to wash the dishes while she is taking a shower.

So the two things happening right here a shower.

So can you wash the dishes while I take a shower?

Okay, so now to the last part of the lesson, right here.

So how do you choose which one to use?

So during, for, and while, which do you choose?

So, if it's a duration, so something like two hours, three years, four days, you use for.

So I lived in Japan for seven years, so that is the duration of time.

If it's a noun, so for example, the film, the holidays, then you use during.

So I like to watch many movies during the holidays.

So that's a noun, holidays, the holidays, so during.

If you have a subject plus a verb, then you want to use while.

So for example, uh, she called while I was cooking.

She decided to eat breakfast while I was still sleeping, So, the subject and then the verb.

a key difference that I have written here, which is during is for when, while, you use for an action, the time length, And these are just some other things to keep in mind.

So people sometimes will mistake these two, so during versus for.

So every morning I run for one hour.

So how long?

For the hour.

Uh, I usually run during the morning.

So this means that in the morning, the time period of the morning, you usually run during that time.

Then we also just have very briefly here during versus while.

So I fell asleep during the movie.

So that means that while the movie was going on, you fell asleep.

Then I fell asleep while I was watching the movie.

It has a similar meaning, but it is slightly different.

So I fell asleep while I was watching the movie.

So you fell asleep, you're sleeping, that's happening, and the movie is still going on.

So you are technically watching the movie, but you fell asleep.

And here are just some mistakes might make.

So during I was waiting, I read a book.

So that is incorrect, unfortunately.

So instead, the correct way So you were waiting, and you were reading a book.

So here you would use while.

So while I was waiting, I read a book.

You can also flip this around and say, I read a book while I was waiting in line.

So that is fine, too.

The next mistake that I have written out here is, I studied English during two years.

So in this case, the length of time is two years, so you do not use during.

Instead, the correct would be, So how long?

Two years.

so I studied English for two years.

Maybe some of you have studied English for two years, or maybe even more.

So you can say, "I studied English," "I studied Japanese," "I studied any language," "for," and then the amount of time that you studied that language for.

So, hopefully, helpful.

This lesson is just to help you identify when to use during versus for versus while, and of course, there's a lot more examples than I have here, but feel free to also come up with your own examples and practice in your own time.

And hopefully this video was helpful, and that's it for today.

I will see you next time.

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