For, during or while

For vs during 

We use for + a period of time to say how long something goes on:

for two hours / for a week / for ages

• We talked with each-other for two hours last night.
• Susan is going away for a week in July.
• Where have you been? I’ve been waiting for ages.
• Are you going away for the weekend?

We use during + noun to say when something happens (not how long): during the film/ during our vacations/ during the night

• I fell asleep during the film.
• We met some really nice people during our vacations.
• The ground is wet. It must have rained during the night.

 
With ‘time words’ (for example: the morning / the afternoon / the summer), you can usually say in or during:

• It must have rained in the night, (or during the night)
• I’ll phone you sometime during the afternoon, (or in the afternoon I

You cannot use during to say how long something goes on:

• It rained for three days without stopping, (not during three days).

 
Compare during and for:

• I fell asleep during the film.
• I was asleep for half an hour.

During vs while

We use during + noun:

• I fell asleep during the film.
• We met a lot of interesting people.

We use while + subject + verb:

• I fell asleep while I was watching TV.
• We met a lot of interesting people during our vacations, while we were on vacations.

Some more examples of while:

• We saw Clare while we were waiting for the bus.
• While you were out, there was a phone call for you.
• Chris read a book while I watched television.

When you are talking about the future, use the present (not will) after while:

• I’ll be in London next week. I hope to see Tom while I’m there. (not while I will be there).
• What are you going to do while you are waiting? (not while you will be waiting).

Read our previous post: Sleep on it