Unit 119. For, during and while

Unit 119; Part A

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 television for two hours last night.
•    Diane 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 film    during our holiday    during the night
•    I fell asleep during the film.
•    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 I

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 film. I was asleep for half an hour.

Unit 119; Part B

During and while
Compare:
119.1.jpg

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.
•    Chris read a book while I watched television.

When you are talking about the future, use the present (not will) after while:
•    I'll be in London next week. I hope to see Tom while I'm there. (not while I will be there)
•    What are you going to do while you are waiting? (not while you will be waiting)
See also Unit 25.

Exercises

1 Put in for or during

Put in for or during.

1    It rained    for    three days without stopping.
2    I fell asleep    during    thе film.
3    I went to the theatre last night. I met Sue ___________ the interval.
4    Martin hasn't lived in Britain all his life. He lived in Brazil ___________ four years.
5    Production at the factory was seriously affected ___________ the strike.
6    I felt really ill last week. I could hardly eat anything ___________ three days.
7    I waited for you ___________ half an hour and decided that you weren't coming.
8    Sarah was very angry with me. She didn't speak to me    a week.
9    We usually go out at weekends, but we don't often go out ___________ the week.
10 Jack started a new job a few weeks ago. Before that he was out of work ___________ six months.
11 I need a change. I think I'll go away ___________ a few days.
12 The president gave a long speech. She spoke ___________ two hours.
13 We were hungry when we arrived. We hadn't had anything to eat ___________ the journey.
14 We were hungry when we arrived. We hadn't had anything to eat ___________ eight hours.

2 Put in during or while.

Put in during or while.

1    We met a lot of interesting people    while    we were on holiday.
2    We met a lot of interesting people    during    our holiday.
3    I met Mike __________ I was shopping.
4    __________ I was on holiday, I didn't read any newspapers or watch TV.
5    __________ our stay in Paris, we visited a lot of museums and galleries.
6    The phone rang three times __________ we were having dinner.
7    The phone rang three times __________ the night.
8    I had been away for many years. __________ that time, many things had changed.
9    What did they say about me __________ I was out of the room?
10 I went out for dinner last night. Unfortunately I began to feel ill __________ the meal and had to go home.
11 Please don't interrupt me __________ I'm speaking.
12 There were many interruptions __________ the president's speech.
13 Can you lay the table __________ I get the dinner ready?
14 We were hungry when we arrived. We hadn't had anything to eat __________ we were travelling.

3 Use your own ideas to complete these sentences.

Use your own ideas to complete these sentences.

1    I fell asleep while    I was watching television.
2    I fell asleep during    the film.
3    I hurt my arm while ____________________________
4    Can you wait here while ____________________________
5    Most of the students looked bored during ____________________________
6    I was asked a lot of questions during ____________________________
7    Don't open the car door while ____________________________
8    The lights suddenly went out while ____________________________
9    It started to rain during ____________________________
10 It started to rain while ____________________________

Unit 118 Unit 119 Unit 120

В настоящее время оффшоры играют важную роль в мировой экономике. Такие компании обеспечивают доступ их владельцам к международным финансовым рынкам.