when+ ing / whilst + ing

[Ochinoam]

Dear teachers,

Is it correct the use of when and whilst + -ing in the following sentences?

- I first became interested in your cause when reading a report on the breeding farm of monkeys in Coven (Germany), published in the magazine "Friends of Earth".

- I achieved a first degree while undertaking extra-curricular activities.

Many thanks in advance!

[PROESL]

Dear teachers,

Is it correct the use of when and whilst + -ing in the following sentences?

- I first became interested in your cause when reading a report on the breeding farm of monkeys in Coven (Germany), published in the magazine "Friends of Earth".

- I achieved a first degree while undertaking extra-curricular activities.

Many thanks in advance!

Yes, these sentences are correct. The grammar topic here is "reducing adverbial clauses to adverbial phrases".

Some people object to using a progressive form with "when", saying that one should use "while". However, I see nothing wrong with using "when" in such a case.

... when I was reading a report on the breeding of farm monkeys ...
... when reading a report on the breeding of farm monkeys ...

... while I was undertaking extra-curricular activities ...
... while undertaking extra-curricular activities ...

Please, post follow-up questions if you have any.

[Ochinoam]

Thank you very much!

I wrote "when" because the action took place over a very short period of time (let's say 20 minutes). Instead, I wrote "while" in the second sentence, because the action took place over a longer period (4 years).

Is there any preference regarding "while" or "whilst"?

[philo2009]

Yes, these sentence are correct. The grammar topic here is "reducing adverbial clauses to adverbial phrases".

Yes, and, unlike the participial supplementives discussed recently, these really are reduced adverbial clauses!!

[PROESL]

Thank you very much!

I wrote "when" because the action took place over a very short period of time (let's say 20 minutes). Instead, I wrote "while" in the second sentence, because the action took place over a longer period (4 years).

Is there any preference regarding "while" or "whilst"?

You are more likely to hear or read "whilst" in British English. We don't use "whilst" in American English. Of course, it's not impossible, but it would be an extremely rare occurence. I'm not sure of just how frequently one could expect to hear or read "whilst" in BrE, but I suspect it's not that common.

There's no problem with using "when" in your sentence.