Prepositions of Time — for, during, while
Introduction
For, During, and While are three of the most common prepositions used in time expressions.
Here are the general rules of using for, during, and while.
For
| Explanation | Examples |
|---|---|
| For is used to express how long something or someone has been doing something. For is used to state a period of time and is usually used with a noun or a pronoun. |
We waited for an hour outside the theatre for you. Curtis has been riding his bicycle for two hours. Rosie, my dog, has been barking for a long time. The traffic has been bad for the last five years. |
While
Formula: (while + subject + verb)
| Explanation | Examples |
|---|---|
| While is used to represent the length of time an action has been happening. | While I was playing the piano, my husband was doing the dishes. |
| While is used when speaking about two actions happening at the same time. The length of the action is not important. | While we were eating dinner, the radio was playing. |
| While is used with a subject and a verb (while + subject + verb) | The doorbell rang while we were eating dinner. |
During
Formula: during + noun (pronoun)
| Explanation | Examples |
|---|---|
| During is used to say when something happens. |
I will be really busy during the next year. |
| During is used with a noun/pronoun. | The children were sleeping during the movie. The power went out during the snow storm. |
When you are sure that you understand the lesson, you can continue with the exercises.