When - While
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Conception : Clarification - Explicitation
- When is used to indicate a specific point or moment in time during an action or event.
- Example: I was reading a book when the lights went out. - Explanation: The action "reading a book" was interrupted by the event "the lights went out."
- While is used to describe two actions occurring simultaneously or over a period of time.
- Example: He was cooking dinner while she was setting the table. - Explanation: Both actions occurred at the same time.
- When is commonly paired with the Simple Past for completed actions, whereas while is often paired with the Past Continuous for ongoing actions.
- Example: I was running when it started to rain. - Example: While I was working on my homework, the phone rang.
Conceptions erronées et origines possibles
- Incorrect: I was writing an email when my boss was entering the room. - Correction: I was writing an email when my boss entered the room.
- Believing that while can only pair with continuous actions.
- Incorrect: While she walked, he drove the car. (Acceptable for simultaneous actions but less common.) - Correction: While she was walking, he was driving the car.
- Assuming when is only used for past actions.
- Incorrect: When I will meet you, I will explain everything. - Correction: When I meet you, I will explain everything. (Use of present tense to express future time.)
Conceptions liées - Typologie
Incorrect use of the present tense to describe a past action / Confusion between "while" and "when" to express simultaneous actions / Incorrect use of "when" with a future tense / Substitution of "while" with "during" in an inappropriate context / Omission of a progressive tense with "while" to indicate a continuous action / Incorrect use of "while" to describe a punctual action / Misinterpretation of "when" as a conjunction of contrast / Confusion about the simultaneity of actions described by "while" / Perception of "when" only as a temporal conjunction / Confusion about the compatibility of "while" with simple past verbs /
Concepts ou notions associés
Références
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When - While sur : Wikipedia / Wikiwand / Universalis / Larousse encyclopédie / Khan Académie | |||
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Éléments graphique
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When - While (Discipline)
When - While: (Discipline)
When - While: (Discipline)
When - While: (Discipline)
When - While: (Discipline)
When - While
When - While
Représentation graphique spatiale When - While: carte conceptuelle (cmap)
Document PDF When - While: Document PDF
Image/Figure When - While: Titre de l'image ou de la figure
Stratégie de changement conceptuel
- Strategy 1: Use Contextual Examples
- To clarify the differences between *when* and *while*, it's essential to provide concrete examples in different contexts. Explain that *when* is used to mark a specific point in time in the past, while *while* describes two actions happening simultaneously. Example:
- *I was reading a book when the doorbell rang.* (action interrupted) - *She was reading while he was cooking.* (simultaneous actions)
- Strategy 2: Work with Visual Sentences
- Use visual aids to illustrate simultaneous actions and actions that occur at a specific moment. A simple graphic showing two parallel actions and another showing one action interrupting another can help to grasp the difference.
- Example: Create a diagram with arrows representing actions, where *when* is an action that interrupts, and *while* represents simultaneous actions.
- Strategy 3: Use Role-Playing
- Ask students to act out scenes where they need to use *when* and *while* correctly. This will help them contextualize the two expressions and use them properly in real communication situations. For example, a student can describe what they were doing *when* an event occurred or what they were doing *while* another activity was happening at the same time.
- Example: "I was talking to my friend *when* I received a message."
- Strategy 4: Clarify Common Errors
- It is important to address common mistakes learners make with *when* and *while*. For instance, avoid using *while* with punctual or completed actions, such as *while I ate my lunch, I saw him*. The correction would be *When I ate my lunch, I saw him*.
- Example: "I was sleeping when the phone rang" is correct, but *"I was sleeping while the phone rang"* is incorrect because the phone rang at a specific moment and interrupted the action.
- Strategy 5: Explain the Difference in Tense Between Present and Past
- Show how *when* can be used with different tenses, including the future and present, while *while* is more commonly used with the past continuous to describe ongoing actions. Example:
- *I will call you when I arrive.* (future) - *While I was studying, my brother was playing video games.* (past continuous for simultaneous actions) *Strategy 6: Use Interactive Exercises
- Create interactive exercises where students have to choose between *when* and *while* based on contextual clues. This can include fill-in-the-blank activities or multiple-choice questions. Make sure to provide immediate feedback on their choices, explaining why one option is correct over the other. Example:
- "I was walking to the store *when* it started to rain." - "I was walking to the store *while* it was raining."
- Strategy 7: Highlight the Time Frame of the Action
- Encourage students to focus on the time frame of the action when deciding whether to use *when* or *while*. If the action is happening at a specific moment, use *when*; if it’s happening over a period of time, use *while*. Use a timeline to help students visualize the difference. Example:
- "He was watching TV *when* his friend called." (Specific moment) - "He was watching TV *while* his friend was playing games." (Ongoing action)
- Strategy 8: Contrast With Similar Expressions
- To strengthen students’ understanding, compare *when* and *while* with similar time-related expressions, such as *as* or *during*. Point out the subtle differences in how each one is used.
- Example: "He was singing *when* I entered the room." vs. "He was singing *as* I entered the room." (*as* suggests an even closer link to the action.) - "She was studying *while* he was working." vs. "She studied *during* his work." (difference between simultaneous actions and the time span).
- Strategy 9: Encourage Practice with Different Time Periods
- Students should practice using *when* and *while* in various time periods, such as past, present, and future, to understand how they function differently with different tenses. Provide sentences where they can practice shifting the tense. Example:
- Past: "I was eating when he called." - Present: "I am eating while I watch TV." - Future: "I will be eating when you arrive."
- Strategy 10: Use Personal Storytelling
- Ask students to tell short stories or describe events from their own lives, using *when* and *while* correctly. This helps them understand how to apply the concepts to real-life situations.
- Example: "Tell me about a time when something unexpected happened while you were doing something else." - This will encourage them to make the distinction between interrupted actions (*when*) and simultaneous actions (*while*).
Questions possibles
- Quand utilise-t-on "when" dans une phrase ?: On utilise "when" pour parler d'un moment spécifique ou d'un événement ponctuel dans le passé, le présent ou le futur.
- Comment différencier "when" et "while" ?: "When" est utilisé pour des actions ponctuelles, tandis que "while" sert à décrire des actions continues ou simultanées.
- Peut-on utiliser "while" pour des actions non continues ?: Non, "while" est réservé aux actions continues ou longues dans le temps.
- Est-il possible d'utiliser "when" avec le présent simple ?: Oui, on l’utilise pour parler d'habitudes ou de vérités générales.
- Pourquoi "while" n'est-il pas correct dans la phrase "While he arrived, we left"?: Parce que "while" implique une action en cours, et "he arrived" est une action ponctuelle.
- Est-ce que "when" peut être utilisé pour parler de deux actions simultanées ?: Oui, mais "while" est souvent préféré pour souligner la simultanéité.
- Quelle est la différence entre "when I was eating" et "while I was eating" ?: "When I was eating" implique un moment spécifique pendant que je mangeais, tandis que "while I was eating" insiste sur la durée.
- Doit-on toujours utiliser le passé continu avec "while" ?: Pas toujours, mais c'est fréquent lorsque l'on décrit une action longue ou continue.
- Peut-on utiliser "while" avec une action future ?: Oui, on peut utiliser "while" avec le futur si l'on parle d'une action continue dans le futur.
- Pourquoi dit-on "When she finished her homework, she went out" et non "While she finished her homework"?: Parce que "finished" est une action ponctuelle, et "while" ne peut pas être utilisé dans ce contexte.
Bibliographie
Pour citer cette page: (- While)
ABROUGUI, M & al, 2025. When - While. In Didaquest [en ligne]. <http:www.didaquest.org/wiki/When_-_While>, consulté le 10, février, 2025
- Hewings, Martin. *Advanced Grammar in Use*. Cambridge University Press, 2005.
- Azar, Betty Schrampfer. *Understanding and Using English Grammar*. Pearson Education, 2017.
- Swan, Michael. *Practical English Usage*. Oxford University Press, 2016.
- Murphy, Raymond. *English Grammar in Use*. Cambridge University Press, 2019.
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- Sponsors Question
- Incorrect use of the present tense to describe a past action - Conceptions
- Confusion between "while" and "when" to express simultaneous actions - Conceptions
- Incorrect use of "when" with a future tense - Conceptions
- Substitution of "while" with "during" in an inappropriate context - Conceptions
- Omission of a progressive tense with "while" to indicate a continuous action - Conceptions
- Incorrect use of "while" to describe a punctual action - Conceptions
- Misinterpretation of "when" as a conjunction of contrast - Conceptions
- Confusion about the simultaneity of actions described by "while" - Conceptions
- Perception of "when" only as a temporal conjunction - Conceptions
- Confusion about the compatibility of "while" with simple past verbs - Conceptions
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