During & In

[reiyumoa]

Hello, teachers!!! I have just joined this forum.

I have long wanted to understand the difference between "in" and "during".

What are the differences between two sentrences below or which is proper English?

I went to Saipan in the last summer vacation.
I went to Saipan during the last summer vacation.

Thank you very much in advance.

[jimsandifer]

Hello, teachers!!! I have just joined this forum.

I have long wanted to understand the difference between "in" and "during".

What are the differences between two sentrences below or which is proper English?

I went to Saipan in the last summer vacation.
I went to Saipan during the last summer vacation.

Thank you very much in advance.

The first sentence is incorrect. The second one is proper English.

[M56]

The first sentence is incorrect. The second one is proper English.

Why is it incorrrect?

What did you do in your summer vacation?

[reiyumoa]

Thank you for your answers.
I however want to know the reason.

Maybe, "during" is used for a part of a certain length of period.
The sample sentence I typed describes something that already
happened in a part of the summer vacation. Is this the reason
that we should use "during", not "in".

About "What did you do in your summer vacation?" ,
the person who asks this does not know what he or she did.

Am I right to guess therefore the sentence " Did you go
to Saipan in your summer vacation?" being incorrect?

I am sorry, but I have started to be confused while I was typing.
Please help me understand more!!!

[M56]

Thank you for your answers.
I however want to know the reason.

Maybe, "during" is used for a part of a certain length of period.
The sample sentence I typed describes something that already
happened in a part of the summer vacation. Is this the reason
that we should use "during", not "in".

About "What did you do in your summer vacation?" ,
the person who asks this does not know what he or she did.

Am I right to guess therefore the sentence " Did you go
to Saipan in your summer vacation?" being incorrect?

I am sorry, but I have started to be confused while I was typing.
Please help me understand more!!!

It's very simple really. "During" has two meanings".

PREPOSITION: 1. Throughout the course or duration of: suffered food shortages during the war. 2. At some time in: was born during a blizzard.

http://www.bartleby.com/61/24/D0432400.html

So we can say:


"I went to Saipan during the last summer vacation.", to mean that I went throughout (the whole period of) my summer vacation.

And we can say:

I went to Saipan in the last summer vacation.
I went to Saipan during the last summer vacation.

Both mean "at some time in that period I was in Saipian".


'Hope that's clear.

[reiyumoa]

I'm sure I have understood them properly.
Thank you very much.

[M56]

I'm sure I have understood them properly.
Thank you very much.

You're welcome.