Part 7: While vs during: English In A Minute

They mean the same, but the grammar's different.

After 'while', we have a clause.

A clause is a group of words containing a subject and a verb.

So we can say: While I was having lunch, my phone rang.

Remember that the verb in the while clause is usually in an ING form.

We can also use 'while' with just an ING form.

So we can say: While having lunch, my phone rang.

So we remove the subject and the 'be' verb.

However, 'during' is different because it can only be used with a noun phrase.

So we can say: During lunch, my phone rang.

We cannot use a clause or just the ING form.

So, same meaning, but different grammar!