Today we're doing the difference between during and while and later meanwhile
They all mean "At the same time" or "In the middle of another action"
but we use them in different ways
We'll start with during (ˈdʒʊərɪŋ) or during (ˈdjʊərɪŋ)
doesn't matter how you pronounce it
but in a sentence there must be a noun after the word "During"
I hate people who talk in the middle of movies
it's very annoying don't do it
but I replace "in the middle of" with "during"
and after we have that noun: "movies"
That's perfect! This is a good sentence! It's great!
But how about "while"? It means the same thing
Can I replace "During" with "While"?
No! If I say "I hate people who talk while movies"
With "while" you need a clause
A subject and a verb, a sentence
so let's imagine you're in bed, you're trying to sleep
BANG!
so in the middle of trying to sleep
you heard a noise, there was an interruption
while I was trying to sleep I heard a noise
and it doesn't matter where you put this sentence
it could be first it could be after like
I heard a noise while I was trying to sleep
That's fine it doesn't matter where you put it
also notice the subject is the same in both sentences
While I was trying to sleep, I heard a noise
In this case you don't need to repeat the subject (ONLY REMOVE SUBJECT IN CONTINUOUS FORMS!)
we'd actually remove the BE verb for continuous tenses
Doesn't matter if it's WAS in past continuous or IS in present
and the subject of course if it's the same
"While trying to sleep, I heard a noise"
"I heard a noise while trying to sleep"
if you remove the subject and the BE verb (AGAIN, ONLY REMOVE SUBJECT IN CONTINUOUS FORMS)
then it definitely definitely sounds more formal
so keep that in mind if you're trying to speak formally that sounds great
but in casual conversation it's much more common not to do that
"Oh my god last night while I was trying to sleep I heard a noise...
Should we use WHILE only with continuous tenses?
"I played drums while she slept"
this is not a continuous tense
How about a present simple? Let's try that!
"She eats ice cream while I work"
"While I work, she just eats ice cream"
This is a present simple tense
doesn't have to be past continuous
just know that WHILE means "In the middle of THIS, THIS happens"
or "At the same time as THIS, THIS happens"
But how about "Meanwhile"? is that the same thing it sounds the same
Well this also means "at the same time" but more commonly it's used to
talk about two different locations, two completely different subjects
In one city Superman was flying and saving the world
at the same time in a different city
Remember "Meanwhile" means "at the same time"
Superman was flying and saving the world
meanwhile in Gotham (in a different place)
I hope you enjoyed today's lesson
Tell me in the comments: Why was Batman crying?
Also try to make your own sentences using during, while, and meanwhile
Give me a thumbs up if you can