Temporal clause with 'während' (while)
Temporalsatz mit 'während'
'während' (while) introduces a expressing two simultaneous actions.
Structure
während + Subjekt ... Verb (Endstellung) - Gleichzeitigkeit
während + subject ... verb (final position) - simultaneity
Details
- Part of Speech
- Conjunction
- Register
- Standard
Explanation
As a subordinating conjunction, während ("while") links two actions that happen at the same time (Gleichzeitigkeit). The conjugated moves to the end of the clause.
Examples:
- Während ich koche, deckt meine Tochter den Tisch. - While I cook, my daughter sets the table.
- Während er telefonierte, schrieb sie eine E-Mail. - While he was on the phone, she wrote an email.
während can also express a contrast ("whereas"): Während mein Bruder Sport mag, lese ich lieber. - Whereas my brother likes sport, I prefer reading.
Two roles - do not confuse them:
- conjunction + clause (-final): während ich arbeite
- preposition + : während der Arbeit ("during the work")
Common mistakes: Treating the like a normal and forgetting -final position (Während ich arbeite den ganzen Tag is wrong). Also mixing up the (followed by a full clause) and the (followed by a in the ).
About Temporal clause with 'während' (while)
'während' (while) introduces a expressing two simultaneous actions.
As a subordinating , 'während' links two simultaneous actions and pushes the to the end. It can also contrast two things (whereas).
'Während' drückt die Gleichzeitigkeit zweier Handlungen aus.
Caution
'während' is also a genitive preposition ('während des Essens'). As a conjunction it sends the verb to the end of the clause.