WHILE, MEANWHILE - WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?

Welcome to ESL Printables, the website where English Language teachers exchange resources: worksheets, lesson plans, activities, etc.
Our collection is growing every day with the help of many teachers. If you want to download you have to send your own contributions.

ESL Forum:

Techniques and methods in Language Teaching

Games, activities and teaching ideas

Grammar and Linguistics

Teaching material

Concerning worksheets

Concerning powerpoints

Concerning online exercises

Make suggestions, report errors

ESL forum > Ask for help > WHILE, MEANWHILE - WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?

WHILE, MEANWHILE - WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?

WHILE, MEANWHILE - WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?

I have one student who asked me the difference between those two words; although I thought I knew it, the more I tried to explain it to him, the more confused he got, then I got confused, and it wasn�t nice.

The internet hasn�t been very helpful either.

I appreciate it if someone could give me a hand in this matter.

11 Jul 2023

Hi Bianca, There is a great video on Youtube which addresses the difference between while and meanwhile.You can see it here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EofcMDlVNIk&ab_channel=EnglishwithEmma%C2%B7engVid

11 Jul 2023

Thank you so much.

12 Jul 2023

Hello Bianca,

WHILE is a conjunction. It introduces a subordinate clause. Thus, the two clauses int he sentence will be linked by a comma.

MEANWHILE is a conjunctive adverb. It introduces a main clause. Thus, it can introduce either a stand-alone sentence or can be used to link two main clauses with a semi-colon.

While Ben was preparing the meal, Amy was laying the table.

Ben was preparing the meal. Meanwhile, Amy was laying the table. or Ben was preparing the meal; meanwhile, Amy was laying the table.

16 Jul 2023