English Grammar Exercises – For, during and while

Exercise 1   

Put in for or during.

1   It rained ……………………. three days without stopping.

2   I fell asleep ……………………. the movie.

3   I went to the theatre last night. I met Sue ……………………. the interval.

4   Martin hasn’t lived in Britain all his life. He lived in Brazil ……………………. four years.

5   Production at the factory was seriously affected ……………………. the strike.

6   I felt really ill last week. I could hardly eat anything ……………………. three days.

7   I waited for you ……………………. half an hour and decided that you weren’t coming.

8   Sarah was very angry with me. She didn’t speak to me ……………………. a week.

9   We usually go out at weekends I but we don’t go out ……………………. the week very often.

10   Jack started a new job a few weeks ago. Before that he was out of work ……………………. six months.

11   I need a break. I think I’ll go away ……………………. a few days.

12   The president gave a long speech. She spoke ……………………. two hours.

13   We were hungry when we arrived. We hadn’t had anything to eat ……………………. the journey.

14   We were hungry when we arrived. We hadn’t had anything to eat ……………………. eight hours.

Exercise 2   

Put in during or while.

1   We met a lot of interesting people ……………………. we were on holiday.

2   We met a lot of interesting people ……………………. our holiday.

3   I met Mike ……………………. I was shopping.

4   ……………………. I was on holiday, I didn’t read any newspapers or watch TV.

5   ……………………. our stay in Paris, we went to a lot of museums and galleries.

6   My phone rang ……………………. we were having dinner.

7   There was a lot of noise ……………………. the night. What was it?

8   I’d been away for many years. ……………………. that time, many things had changed.

9   What did they say about me ……………………. I was out of the room?

10   I went out for dinner last night. Unfortunately I began to feel ill ……………………. the meal and had to go home.

11   Please don’t interrupt me ……………………. I’m speaking.

12   There were many interruptions ……………………. the president’s speech.

13   Can you hold my bag ……………………. I try on this jacket?

14   We were hungry when we arrived. We hadn’t had anything to eat ……………………. we were travelling.

Exercise 3   

Use your own ideas to complete these sentences.

1   I fell asleep while …………………….

2   I fell asleep during …………………….

3   Nobody came to see me while …………………….

4   Can you wait for me while …………………….

5   Most of the students looked bored during …………………….

6   I was asked a lot of questions during …………………….

7   Don’t open the car door while …………………….

8   The lights suddenly went out while …………………….

9   It started to rain during …………………….

10   It started to rain while …………………….

11   What are you going to do while …………………….