🧠 TOEIC Trap: During vs While — The Time Test You Can Win in One Second

You’re in Part 5.
You read:

I took notes ___ the meeting.

“During”? “While”?
Both look fine.
Only one gets the point.

TOEIC loves this because both words talk about time — but what comes next decides the winner.

🎯 Why TOEIC Wins This Point

Most test-takers choose by feel.
TOEIC counts on that.

Here’s the one-second check:

  • During = followed by a thing or event. No action happening.

  • While = followed by an action — a subject doing something.

💣 The One-Second Trigger

Look right after the blank:

  • Thing / event → during

  • Action happening → while

👇 Watch It in Action

✅ Correct

I slept during the meeting.
(“the meeting” = event) → during

✅ Correct

I slept while he spoke.
(“he spoke” = action) → while

❌ Wrong

I slept during he spoke.
(Mixing during with an action) — trap.

🧪 TOEIC-Style Practice

She left the room ___ the video call.
🧠 “the video call” = event → during

The technician arrived ___ we were eating lunch.
🧠 “we were eating” = action → while

I heard a strange sound ___ the interview.
🧠 “the interview” = event → during

He was silent ___ she presented the results.
🧠 “she presented” = action → while

📝 Your Turn

Fill each blank with during or while.
Use the one-second check: event → during / action → while.

  1. We stayed indoors ___ the storm.

  2. She took notes ___ the speaker explained the process.

  3. I met an old friend ___ my trip to Osaka.

  4. He checked his phone ___ he waited for the bus.

Answer Key + Coaching

  1. ✅ during — “the storm” = event

  2. ✅ while — “the speaker explained” = action

  3. ✅ during — “my trip to Osaka” = event

  4. ✅ while — “he waited” = action

🔁 Takeaway Rule

Forget guessing by sound.
Check what comes next:

  • Event → during

  • Action → while

One quick look after the blank — trap destroyed.

Final Word

TOEIC’s time traps aren’t about vocabulary.
They’re about spotting the pattern in what follows.

For more strategies and resources to master TOEIC time traps, visit the English Library Collection and start locking in time-clue confidence today.

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.
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