What's the difference between "when" and "while" in this context?

Question

What's the difference between "when" and "while" in the following context?

Examples:

In present progressive tense:

I'm writing when I'm eating now.

I'm writing while I'm eating now.

In present simple tense:

I write when I eat.

I write while I eat.

Virtuous Legend · Accepted Answer · 2018-12-16 20:29:52Z

2

"I write when I eat." means that whenever or every time you eat you write as well.

"I write while I eat." means that you write during your meal, at the same time.

I don't think the first two sentences are correct. I am writing and eating right now sounds better to me.

Virtuous Legend

27k192 gold badges411 silver badges594 bronze badges

answered Dec 16, 2018 at 20:27

anouk

3,9093 gold badges16 silver badges40 bronze badges

Thank you. Are you a native English speaker?
– Virtuous Legend
Dec 16, 2018 at 20:30
No I'm not. I have a degree in English though.
– anouk
Dec 16, 2018 at 20:45
The second sentence in the question is grammatical—although the use of now at the end is very unusual and makes it sound wrong. The first sentence in the question, however, is certainly wrong—even without the use of now.
– Jason Bassford
Dec 18, 2018 at 2:01

Add a comment |

1 Answer 1