UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE

CHIMBORAZO
FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS DE LA EDUCACIN HUMANAS
Y TECNOLOGAS

GRAMMAR SIX
Msg. Magdalena Ullauri

The use of for, during and while

MADE BY: CRISTIAN YUMISACA AND PATRICIA VINUEZA

2015-2016

THE USE OF FOR, DURING AND WHILE

The prepositions during, for, and while are often used with time expressions. Let's take a
look at the difference in usage between during, for, and while.
How to use for?
For is a preposition which is used with a period to say how long something goes on, It
answers the question : How long?
for twenty minutes

for a week

for a long time

for a year

For example:
"Simon has been sleeping for 8 hours."
"We waited for 30 minutes outside your house."

How to use during

During is a preposition which is used before a noun (during + noun) It means 'throughout
the period' or 'in the course of' an action or event. For example:
during the match

during the war

during the weekend

I fell asleep during the film because it was so boring. (The sleeping happened at the same
time as the film.)
Notice that during is followed by a noun, which often represents an activity (during + the
film).
"Nobody spoke during the presentation."
The bank was robbed during the night

Remember: You cannot use during to say how long something

continues.
Incorrect= It snowed during 3 nights

correct = It snowed for 3 nights

How to use while

While is used to talk about two things that are happening at the same time. The length of
time is not important. It is very similar to during, but it is followed by a sentence (while +
subject + verb...), so they are not interchangeable. For example:
Stan: When did you lose your credit cards?
Mark: I think it was while I was shopping in El Corte Ingls.
"The phone rang while I was watching TV."
"I met him while we were studying in the library."
It is often possible to drop subject + be :
I generally listen to music while driving to work.
Sam twisted his ankle while playing tennis.

While can also be a noun which means 'a period of time'.

I spoke to the neighbor for quite a while yesterday.
It's been a while since I read that book.

EXERCISE: COMPLETE WITH THE CORRECT PREPOSITION OF TIME FOR

THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES: FOR, WHILE OR DURING.
1. I've been meaning to call you _for__ some time.
2. He fell asleep _during__ the meeting.
3. We all stayed inside _during__ the storm.
4. Someone stole my bag _while__ I was riding on the train.
5. The dog was barking __while_ she was trying to watch TV.
6. Please don't smoke _while__ I'm eating.
7. Bats sleep __during_ the day.
8. They've been out of the office _for__ ages.
9. He kept talking to me _while__ I was trying to read.
10. His mobile-phone rang twice _during__ the film.

References:
LEARN ENGLISH- How use during for and while. Retrieved from:
(http://www.ecenglish.com/learnenglish/lessons/how-use-during-for-and-while)

LEARN ENGLISH TODAY-Grammar for, during, while. Retrieved from:

(http://www.learn-english-today.com/lessons/lesson_cont/grammar/for-duringwhile.html)
STUDYZONE- Prepositions of time. Retrieved from:
(http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/490/grammar/prepositions-time-for-duringwhile1.htm)

UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE CHIMBORAZO

FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS DE LA EDUCACIN Y TECNLOGIAS
ESCUELA DE IDIOMAS

NAME:

DATE:

OBJECTIVES: We want to know if the presentation is making the changes to students

knowledge about the time prepositions for during and while. Evaluation makes us
focus on the core outcomes we want to have for people we are working with.
COMPLETE WITH THE CORRECT PREPOSITION OF TIME FOR THE
FOLLOWING SENTENCES: for, while or during.
(1 POINT EACH ONE).
TIME: 10 MINUTES.
1. Danny quit smoking ________ the last semester.
2. I have planned to call you ________ some time.
3. Gabrielle was talking to me ________ I was trying to study.
4. We held hands ________ we watched the performance.
5. John scored a goal ________ the basketball game.
6. They moved away to Toronto, so I haven't seen them ________ ages.
7. We are not supposed to talk ________ the opera.

8. I cooked the dinner ________ Peter cut the flowers.

9. The children did not make any noise ________ the movie.
10. I waited in front of the library ________ one hour.

Signature: