🧠 TOEIC Trap: During vs While

Two words about time. One easy mistake that costs you points.

You’re working through Part 5.
Then this shows up:

“I took notes ___ the meeting.”

“During”? “While”?
They both look right… but only one fits.

This trap works because both words express time, but they follow different grammar rules — and TOEIC knows you’re in a hurry.

🎯 Why This Trap Works

TOEIC wants to see if you notice what comes next:

  • During → followed by a noun or event (no verb)

  • While → followed by a sentence (subject + verb)

Many test takers choose by feeling — not structure. That’s what TOEIC is betting on.

📘 Coaching Breakdown

✅ DURING = + noun or time event

“During” connects to a thing — not an action.

✅ I slept during the meeting.
✅ She got a call during lunch.

❌ I slept during he spoke. ← Wrong. "he spoke" is a sentence, not a noun.

✅ WHILE = + subject + verb

“While” connects to an action happening — it needs a subject and verb after it.

✅ I slept while he spoke.
✅ She got a call while she was eating.

❌ I slept while the meeting. ← Wrong. No verb = no go.

🧠 How to win this trap on the test:

  1. Look after the blank.

  2. Is it just a noun or event? → Use during

  3. Is it a full sentence? → Use while

  4. Never guess by feel — check the structure

🧪 Coached TOEIC Questions

1. I fell asleep ___ the presentation.
(A) while
(B) during
(C) as
(D) for

✅ Correct: B
➡ “The presentation” = a noun. Use “during.”

2. He made several mistakes ___ he was speaking.
(A) while
(B) during
(C) although
(D) because

✅ Correct: A
➡ “He was speaking” = subject + verb. Use “while.”

3. We had a fire drill ___ the meeting.
(A) while
(B) during
(C) in
(D) when

✅ Correct: B
➡ “The meeting” is a noun event → “during.”

4. I took a phone call ___ I was in the elevator.
(A) during
(B) while
(C) since
(D) after

✅ Correct: B
➡ “I was in the elevator” = sentence. Use “while.”

📝 Practice Test (No Answers)

1. She left the room ___ the video call.
(A) during
(B) while
(C) because
(D) at

2. The technician arrived ___ we were eating lunch.
(A) during
(B) while
(C) at
(D) as

3. I heard a strange sound ___ the interview.
(A) while
(B) during
(C) because
(D) after

4. He was silent ___ she presented the results.
(A) during
(B) while
(C) to
(D) though

✅ Answer Key + Coaching

  1. ✅ during → “the video call” = noun

  2. ✅ while → “we were eating lunch” = sentence

  3. ✅ during → “the interview” = noun

  4. ✅ while → “she presented” = full sentence

🔁 Final Coaching

Forget feeling. This is about what comes after.

  • During needs a noun.

  • While needs a full sentence.

Check structure. Then strike.

You’ll never fall for this one again.

FAQ (English) — During vs While What is the difference between “during” and “while” in English? “During” is followed by a noun. “While” is followed by a full sentence with subject and verb. When should I use “during” instead of “while”? Use “during” when you are referring to a time event like a meeting, class, or lunch — not an action. What comes after “while” in a sentence? “While” must be followed by a full sentence with a subject and verb, like “while he was speaking.” Can I say “during he spoke”? No. That’s incorrect. You must say “while he spoke” or “during the speech.” Is “while the meeting” correct English? No. “While” must be followed by a sentence. Use “during the meeting” instead. Is “during” used before nouns or verbs? Before nouns. Always. Example: “during the movie,” not “during watching.” Can I use “while” before a noun? No. “While” needs a full clause — it cannot directly follow a noun alone. Why is “during vs while” a common TOEIC trap? Because both relate to time and feel similar, but the grammar structures are completely different. How do I know if it should be “while” or “during”? Check what follows: if it's a noun, use “during.” If it's a sentence, use “while.” Is “during he was talking” correct? No. Use “while he was talking” or “during his talk.” What’s the rule for using “during” in TOEIC grammar questions? Use “during” before time-related nouns: “during the meeting,” “during lunch,” “during the event.” What’s the structure rule for “while” in TOEIC? “While” should be followed by a subject and verb: “while she was presenting,” “while we waited.” Can both “while” and “during” be correct in the same sentence? No. Only one will fit depending on whether it’s a noun or a sentence that follows. How do TOEIC questions trick learners with “during” and “while”? They hide the structure difference and use similar-looking choices. You must check grammar after the blank. What’s a simple way to check “during” vs “while”? If you see a verb after the blank, it’s probably “while.” If it’s just a noun, go with “during.” Can I use “during” with an action? Only if the action is made into a noun, like “during the presentation.” Not “during presenting.” Can I say “while lunch”? No. That’s incorrect. Say “during lunch” or “while we were having lunch.” Is “during the presentation” correct? Yes. That’s the proper use of “during” — followed by a time event. Can I say “I studied while the night”? No. “The night” is a noun. You should say “during the night.” Is “while he was talking” correct grammar? Yes. That’s the correct use of “while” followed by a subject and verb.