During vs. while

Exercise 1

Match example sentences to the corresponding rules.

Theory

Exercise 2

Choose the correct word in the following sentences:

• I fell asleep ___ the class.
• She texted her friend ___ she was waiting for the bus.
• We couldn’t talk much ___ the meeting.
• He fell ___ he was getting out of the shower.
• My phone rang ___ dinner.
• Don’t use your phone ___ driving.
• I met my best friend ___ my first week at uni.
• The lights went out ___ we were cooking.
• He felt nervous ___ the interview.
• I listened to music ___ I cleaned the flat.
• We were caught in the rain ___ our walk.
• I can’t concentrate ___ you’re playing music so loudly.

Exercise 3

Fill in the gaps with ‘during’ or ‘while’ and watch the clips to check your answers.

Exercise 4

Choose ‘during’ or ‘while’ and answer the questions:

1. What’s your favourite way to relax during/while the weekend?
2. Can you multitask effectively, such as listening to music while/during working?
3. How do you manage stress during/while busy periods at work or at home?
4. During/While growing up, who was your role model, and why?
5. What snacks do you like to eat during/while watching a film?
6. Did you pick up a new hobby during/while lockdown?
7. What do you usually do during/while you’re commuting?
8. What’s the most surprising thing that happened during/while a trip or holiday?
9. Have you ever had to take an important call during/while you were in the middle of something?
10. What’s the hardest part during/while a busy week for you?
11. What helps you stay calm during/while you’re waiting for bad news or a result?
12. Have you ever felt awkward during/while a meeting or presentation? What happened?
13. When was the last time you felt proud during/while you were doing something difficult?
14. What do you usually eat or drink during/while a long day at work?
15. What’s something you’ve learnt during/while travelling?
16. What’s something you always forget during/while the rush in the morning?
17. Have you ever made a silly mistake during/while you were working and distracted?
18. What’s the funniest thing that happened during/while a family gathering?

Exercise 5

Choose the correct word (during / while) to complete each sentence.

1. I got a headache ___ the lesson because the room was so warm.
2. Please don’t interrupt me ___ I’m speaking.
3. We lost our luggage ___ the flight.
4. I burnt the toast ___ I was making coffee.
5. He met his partner ___ a trip abroad.
6. I always feel sleepy ___ long meetings.
7. ___ I was walking the dog, I ran into an old friend.
8. The baby woke up ___ the night.
9. She hurt her knee ___ playing tennis.
10. We chatted quietly ___ the film.
11. My laptop crashed ___ I was sending an email.
12. I learned loads of new words ___ my time in London.