When or while? A long action and a short one
Short answer: In stories, use while with the longer background action (was or were + -ing) and when with the short action that interrupts it (past simple): While I was walking, it started to rain. She was reading when the door opened. The long action was going on, and the short one happened in the middle.
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At a glance
| Part | Tense | Example |
|---|---|---|
| while + long action | was / were + -ing | While I was walking, |
| short action | past simple | it started to rain. |
| when + short action | past simple | ...when the door opened. |
In short
- while + the long action (was / were + -ing).
- when + the short action that interrupts (past simple).
- Do not swap the forms.
What is the rule for “when and while in stories”?
The rule
Use while for the longer background action. Use when for the short action that interrupts it.
How it looks
While + was / were + -ing, short action (past) · was / were + -ing + when + short action
What it means
The long action was going on when something short happened.
When to use it
Use them to tell a story with something that happens in the middle.
How it works
- Find the long action: what was going on? Put it with was or were + -ing.
- Find the short action: what happened in the middle? Put it in the past simple.
- Join them with while (long action) or when (short action).
- If the first part starts the sentence, add a comma.
Examples of “when and while in stories”
- While I was walking, it started to rain.
Long: walking. Short: rain started. - She was reading when the door opened.
Long: reading. Short: the door opened. - While he was drawing, his sister came home.
Long: drawing. Short: sister came. - We were eating when the bird flew in.
Long: eating. Short: the bird flew in. - While we were eating, the lights went out.
Long: eating. Short: lights went out. - He was sleeping when the phone rang.
Long: sleeping. Short: the phone rang. - I was crossing the road when I saw a cat.
Long: crossing. Short: I saw. - While she was cooking, he came home.
Long: cooking. Short: he came.
Common mistakes with “when and while in stories”
While I walked, it was starting to rain.→ While I was walking, it started to rain.
The long action is was + -ing. The short action is past simple.I sleeping when the phone rang.→ I was sleeping when the phone rang.
We need was.While she was reading, the door was opening.→ While she was reading, the door opened.
The short action is past simple.While she reading, the phone rang.→ While she was reading, the phone rang.
The long action needs was or were + -ing.While I was crossing the road, I was seeing a cat.→ While I was crossing the road, I saw a cat.
A short action uses the past simple.
Exceptions: watch out
- Other patterns
There are more ways to use when and while, but in these stories: while + long action, when + short action.
While, when and as
While and when can sometimes be swapped, but in these stories they have clear jobs.
| Word | Used with | Example |
|---|---|---|
| while | the longer action | While I was reading, |
| when | the short action | when she called. |
| as | two things at the same time | As I walked, I sang. |
See also: Past continuous: was / were + -ing
Check yourself
- Choose: “___ I was walking, it started to rain.”
Show the answer
While Walking is the long action.
- Choose: “She was reading ___ the door opened.”
Show the answer
when The door opening is the short action.
- Fix: “While I walked, it was starting to rain.”
Show the answer
While I was walking, it started to rain. Long action: was + -ing. Short action: past simple.
How to practice “when and while in stories”
The interactive version adds step-by-step help, spoken instructions and a quick check. One rule card, one sound lesson and the first lesson of every stone are free to try; the rest is part of Full Access. See Full Access.
- Practice lesson: when and while in stories
Questions
Can both actions be long?
Yes, with while: While I was cooking, he was reading. Both are in progress at the same time.
Can I put the short action first?
Yes: The door opened while she was reading. No comma is needed when the while part comes last.
Is “when” always for the short action?
In these stories, yes. Elsewhere, when also means at the time that: When I was ten, I lived in Hue.
More Linking Ideas Further rules
- before and after: before and after put two events in time order. Each part needs its own subject and verb.
- Past continuous: was / were + -ing: was or were + -ing tells what was happening at a time in the past.
- Why we do things: to and so that: To give a reason for an action, use to + the plain action word. so that can be followed by a full idea.
- Describing people with who: who adds information about a person. It takes the place of he or she, so do not say it twice.
- Describing things with that and which: that and which add information about a thing. Do not say the thing twice.
- although and even though: although and even though show that two ideas are different. Do not add but.
Used in these writing topics
Part of the 📘 Grammar tool. Level G5: Linking Ideas Further. Đọc bằng tiếng Việt.
Written for English learners by the English for Fun team. How we write our lessons · Last updated 2026-11-05.
Reviewed by Chinh Q. Hoang, PhD, founder, English for Fun · 2026-10-30
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