Choosing between during and while often confuses English learners because both words refer to things happening at the same time. However, they function differently grammatically. The choice depends entirely on what comes immediately after the word: a noun or a clause (action).
Quick Answer: During vs. While
Use During before a noun phrase (an event, a period of time). Use While before a subject + verb (an action happening).
I fell asleep during the movie.
I fell asleep while I was watching the movie.
I fell asleep during I was watching… ✖
Table of Contents
The Core Grammar Difference
The difference lies in the part of speech. Understanding this simple grammatical distinction solves 99% of errors.
| Word | Part of Speech | Followed By | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| During | Preposition | Noun or Noun Phrase | During the storm |
| While | Conjunction | Subject + Verb (Clause) | While it was raining |
How to Use “During” Correctly
During is a preposition. It tells us when something happened. You must use it with a noun or a noun phrase. It answers the question: “In which time frame did this happen?”
Think of during as meaning “throughout the course of.” You cannot put a verb directly after it.
- Correct: Please remain seated during the flight. (Noun phrase)
- Correct: No one spoke during the presentation. (Noun)
- Correct: We visited Paris during the summer. (Noun phrase)
Tip: If you can point to the word following it and say “that is a thing or an event” (like the movie, the night, the exam), you should use During. Source-1✅
How to Use “While” Correctly
While is a conjunction. It connects two actions happening simultaneously. It must be followed by a clause, which means you need a subject (who) and a verb (action).
- Correct: While I was eating, the phone rang. (Subject: I, Verb: was eating)
- Correct: She listened to music while she worked. (Subject: she, Verb: worked)
- Correct: The power went out while we were watching TV.
The “-Ing” Exception (Reduced Clause)
Sometimes, you will see While followed directly by a verb ending in -ing (a gerund). This is a “reduced clause.” It is allowed only when the subject of both parts of the sentence is the same.
You can say “While walking” because it is short for “While [I was] walking.” You can never do this with “During.”
Correct Forms
✔ While walking to work, I saw him.
✔ While reading, she fell asleep.
Incorrect Forms
✖ During walking to work…
✖ During reading…
Common Mistakes and Corrections
Learners often translate directly from their native language, which leads to mixing these up. Review this list to spot errors.
| Incorrect Sentence ✖ | Correct Sentence ✔ | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| During I was in Spain… | While I was in Spain… | “I was” is a subject + verb. |
| While the interview… | During the interview… | “The interview” is a noun. |
| During staying at the hotel… | While staying at the hotel… | “Staying” is an action/gerund. |
| While the war… | During the war… | “The war” is an event (noun). |
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ: During vs. While
Can I use “During” with a time period like “3 weeks”?
Generally, no. We usually use “For” to talk about the duration or length of time (e.g., “I stayed there for 3 weeks”). “During” tells you when something happened within a period (e.g., “I went skiing during those 3 weeks”).
Is “During while” ever correct?
Can “While” be used as a noun?
Yes, but the meaning changes. In the phrase “in a while” or “for a while,” the word while functions as a noun meaning “a period of time.” This is different from its use as a conjunction.
What is the difference between “During” and “Throughout”?
During implies the event happened at some point within the time frame. Throughout emphasizes that it happened continuously from the beginning to the end. (e.g., “She slept throughout the movie” means she didn’t wake up at all).