Grammar reference and practice 2.3

 

2.3 ■ while, as and when

• ■We use while and as with the past simple and past continuous to talk about actions that take place at the same time. Generally, while and as are used to introduce longer actions.

  While you were having lunch, I was working hard in the garden.

  They arrived as I was leaving.

  ■We use when to introduce a shorter action that interrupts a longer one.

  He was walking home when he met an old friend.

  ■We also use when to talk about an event that is immediately followed by another event.

  When it stopped snowing, we went outside.

  ■We can use when, as or while at the beginning of a sentence or in the middle. If it is used in the middle, there is no comma.

  I was working hard in the garden while you were having lunch.

  We went outside when it stopped snowing.

1Choose the correct sentence ending. 

• 1I was crossing the street

  while I heard the shop window break.when I heard the shop window break.

• 2While I was repairing my bike,

  I cut my hand.I was cutting my hand.

• 3The sea was coming in quickly as

  we were walking along the beach.we walked along the beach.

• 4When we stopped the car to look at the map,

  while we were realizing we were lost.we realized that we were lost.

• 5As Dave was putting up the tent,

  when Mark made dinner.Mark was making dinner.

• 6The ferry left

  while the passengers were getting on.when the passengers got on.

• 7I heard a strange noise

  just as I was falling asleep.when I fell asleep.

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2Complete the sentences with while, as or when. Sometimes more than one answer is possible. 

You need to use normal letters and capital letters correctly in this task.

• 1No one was listening  Sam was telling the joke.

• 2Everyone laughed  Karen told the joke.

• 3 we were planning our route, the wind blew the map away.

• 4 we planned our route, we didn't have a very good map.

• 5Sue and Ian decided to get a sandwich  they were waiting for you.

• 6Were you annoyed  Ryan arrived late?