The use of when and while

While
• We use while to link two continuous
actions that happened at the same time
in the past.
• We use the past continuous tense for
both actions.
while

Tom and Mary were doing their homework.

NOW

5:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m.

Mum was cooking the dinner.

Tom and Mary were doing their homework

while Mum was cooking the dinner.
while

Tom was eating.

NOW

5:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m.

Tom was watching TV.

Tom was eating while he was watching TV.

 When
We use when to link a long action and a
short action.

We use the past continuous tense for the

long action. We use the past tense for
the
short action.
when

Tim was doing his homework.

NOW

5:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m.

Mum came home at 6:30 p.m.

Tim was doing his homework

when Mum came home.
when

Tim was taking a shower.

NOW

5:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m.

The doorbell rang.

Tim was taking a shower when

the doorbell rang.
 Note:
e.g. 1. I was cooking dinner when I burnt my arm. 
2. I burnt my arm while I was cooking dinner. 

We can also use ‘while’ in the second sentence, but while

must be followed by past continuous tense.

I was cooking dinner while I burnt my arm 