When vs.

While

Indicate same-time activities

In Context

My wife gave birth to our daughter last night. Our little baby girl was napping when I
phoned my family. I was staring at her little face while I was holding her. She was sleeping so
peacefully. When I called home, my brother picked up the phone. We were talking while my
mother was listening in on our conversation. My brother said that she had tears in her
eyes while I was talking about the birth.

Same-time Events

WHEN

When + clause relates an activity that occurs at the same time as or slightly
before the activity in the main clause. The clause following when may express (1)
a short interruption, or (2) a response to the activity in the first clause. " X occurs,
Y results." Typically, the verb in the when-clause is non-progressive and
expresses an activity with shorter duration.

INTERRUPTION—AT THE MOMENT

When you called, he was holding his newborn baby.

RESPONSE—IMMEDIATELY AFTER

When you called, he picked up his phone.

1
 WHILE

While + clause relates an activity that occurs at the same-time as (simultaneously

with) the activity in the main clause. The clause following while includes a verb
with a meaning and/or a tense that expresses duration. The while-clause often
expresses a background activity to the focus-activity in the main
clause.

SAME TIME—SOMETIME DURING THE TIME

While he was talking, he was holding his newborn baby. (held)

SAME TIME—DURING THE TIME

While he was talking, his baby slept. (was sleeping)

When has four meanings:

1. Interruption —He was holding his newborn baby when you called. ("called" ["rang
up"] —short duration² )
2. Same time—He was holding his newborn baby when (or while) he was talking on the
phone. ("was talking" —longer duration³)

2
 3. Immediately after (in response)—When you called, he picked up his phone. ("called"
and "picked up"—short duration)
4. Anytime / whenever—when he has a question, he calls the doctor. (cause effect)

While has two meanings:

1. Same time—He was holding his newborn baby while (or when) he was talking on the
phone. (was talking — duration [process verb])
2. Contrast —while some fathers are uncomfortable holding newborns, others are
not. "whereas"

Other expressions for when and while

WHEN

SAME-TIME¹

We were sleeping at the moment he called.

We were sleeping when he called.

We were sleeping at the time he called. (point, instant)

We were sleeping when he called.

We were sleeping whenever he called. (any time)

We were sleeping when he called.

IMMEDIATELY AFTER²

We stopped eating upon receiving his call.

We stopped eating when we received his call.

We stopped eating just as he called.

We stopped eating when he called

3
We complained immediately after he called.
We complained when he called.

We complained shortly after he called.

We complained when he called

WHILE

SAME-TIME

We were having dinner as he was talking / talked on his phone.

We were having dinner while he was…

During the time that we were havting dinner, he was talking / talked on his
phone.
While we were having…

He was talking / talked on his phone throughout the time that we were having.
He was talking while we were having.

He was talking / talked on his phone at the same time that we were playing
chess.

He was talking / talked on his phone. Meanwhile, we were playing chess.

He was talking / talked on his phone during the time that we were playing
chess.

He was talking / talked on his phone all the while we were playing
chess.. (expression)