While or When?

1. _____________ he was talking on the phone, I was watching TV.
while
when

2. He might have been canceling his flight ______ we called him.
while
when

3. I was overtaking a truck ______ I heard a loud thump.
   while
   when

4. We were watching a movie _____ the screen went blank.
while
when

5. ________ she was packing the bags, I was looking for our passports.
while
when

6. We were complaining about the weather __________ the sun broke through the clouds.
while
when

7. Mike was washing the dishes _________ a plate fell off the shelf.
while
when 

 

When

• He was talking on the phone when I arrived.
• When she called, he had already eaten lunch.
• I washed the dishes when my daughter fell asleep.
• We'll go to lunch when you come to visit.
  

'When' means 'at that moment, at that time, etc.'. Notice the different tenses used in relationship to the clause beginning with when. It is important to remember that 'when' takes either the simple past OR the present - the dependent clause changes tense in relation to the 'when' clause.
 

While, as

• She began cooking while I was finishing my homework.
• As I was finishing my homework, she began cooking.

'While' and 'as' mean 'during that time'. 'While' and 'as' are both usually used with the past continuous because the meaning of 'during that time' which indicates an action in progress.