For and during
We use
for + a period of time to say how long something goes on:
- for two hours
- for a week
- for ages
- We watched TV for two hours last night.
- Jess is going away for a week in September.
- Where have you been? I've been waiting for ages.
- Are you going away for the weekend?
We use
during +
noun to say when something happens (not how long):
- during the movie
- during our holiday
- during the night
- I fell asleep during the movie.
- We met some really nice people during our holiday.
- The ground is wet. It must have rained during the night.
With 'time words' (for example:
the morning /
the afternoon /
the summer), you can usually say
in or
during:
- It must have rained in the night. or ... during the night.
- I'll phone you sometime during the afternoon. or ... in the afternoon.
You cannot use
during to say how long something goes on:
- It rained for three days without stopping. (not during three days)
Compare
during and
for:
- I fell asleep during the movie. I was asleep for half an hour.
During and while
Compare:
We use during + noun:
- I fell asleep during the movie.
- We met a lot of interesting people during our holiday.
- Robert suddenly began to feel ill during the exam.
| We use while + subject + verb:
- I fell asleep while I was watching TV.
- We met a lot of interesting people while we were on holiday.
- Robert suddenly began to feel ill while he was doing the exam.
|
Some more examples of
while:
- We saw Clare while we were waiting for the bus.
- While you were out, there was a phone call for you.
- Alex read a book while I watched TV.
When you are talking about the future, use the
present (
not will) after
while:
- I'm going to Singapore next week. I hope to see some friends of mine while I'm there.(not while I will be there)
- What are you going to do while you're waiting? (not while you'll be waiting)
See also Unit 25.
