while/when I know she's only 16

[joham]

She claimed to be 19 while/when I know she's only 16.

Do both while and when work for this sentence?

Many thanks.

 

[jamiep]

Try
She claims to be 19 while I know she's only 16.
or
She claimed to be 19 when I knew she was only 16.

What do you think the difference in use between when and while is in the two sentences?

 

[joham]

Thank you for your help. I thought the 'claimed' was used with the omitted time adverbial 'just now' when I read the sentence in the Oxfor Dictionary:
when: although She claimed to be 18, when I know she's only 16.
I wondered if while could also be used. Your reply gives men a new insight. Thank you again.

 

[emsr2d2]

She claimed to be 19 while/when I know she's only 16.

Do both while and when work for this sentence?

Many thanks.

The problem, as I see it, is that both "when" and "while" are commonly used in this sort of context but neither of them really fits. I definitely wouldn't say that the tense of the sentence makes any difference to the choice. They are both words used colloquially in the context without really being the appropriate word because time (to which both "when" and "while" relate) is really irrelevant. I would go with something like:

She claimed to be 19 whereas I knew she was really 16.
She claims to be 19 but I know she is really 16.

I have thought of one situation where I think it is used and sounds much more natural "Don't try telling me you're 19 when I know damn well you're only 16!" Here, "when" means "because". I honestly can't say why it sounds better in that context than in the original statements.

 

[jamiep]

I should say that I gave two sentences that sound natural to me but native speakers will say things in different ways as shown by emsr2d2's post.

 

[5jj]

"while [...] 3 used to contrast two things"
"when [...] 6 although"

These definitions from the OALD confirm that both are possible.

 

[emsr2d2]

I would like to add that "while" is a better fit than "when", in my opinion. "While" does have the definition "although" so, on reflection, could be used here.

I was typing this at the same time as 5jj's post was going up. As jamiep said, there is a lot of variation in what different native speakers hear as being natural.

 

[SoothingDave]

I prefer "while," but "when" could be used as well.

I would never use "whereas" unless I was writing a resolution for a legislative body, or some similar type of legal document.

 

[emsr2d2]

I prefer "while," but "when" could be used as well.

I would never use "whereas" unless I was writing a resolution for a legislative body, or some similar type of legal document.

Perhaps another BrE vs AmE difference. I use "whereas" a lot.

My mum roasts potatoes in goose fat whereas I roast them in butter.

 

[SoothingDave]

That would be a "while" or a "where" here.

 

[5jj]

My mum roasts potatoes in goose fat whereas I roast them in butter.

I could use 'while' there, but not 'when'; in the original sentence, I could use either.

 

[BobK]

....
She claimed to be 19 whereas I knew she was really 16.
She claims to be 19 but I know she is really 16.

Yes. Something adversative fits better. Sadly, I don't think 'whereas' has much longer to live, except in the bigger dictionaries.

I have thought of one situation where I think it is used and sounds much more natural "Don't try telling me you're 19 when I know damn well you're only 16!" Here, "when" means "because". I honestly can't say why it sounds better in that context than in the original statements.

:up: Good catch! ;-)

b

 

[konungursvia]

I feel that 'while' works here, in the sense of whereas.

The problem, as I see it, is that both "when" and "while" are commonly used in this sort of context but neither of them really fits. I definitely wouldn't say that the tense of the sentence makes any difference to the choice. They are both words used colloquially in the context without really being the appropriate word because time (to which both "when" and "while" relate) is really irrelevant. I would go with something like:

She claimed to be 19 whereas I knew she was really 16.
She claims to be 19 but I know she is really 16.

I have thought of one situation where I think it is used and sounds much more natural "Don't try telling me you're 19 when I know damn well you're only 16!" Here, "when" means "because". I honestly can't say why it sounds better in that context than in the original statements.

 

[emsr2d2]

I was thinking about this a little more (in the bath!) and realised that I might actually use "whilst" in that original example. I realise the dictionaries etc tend to say that "whilst" has the same meaning as "while" but is used more in BrE. I was thinking about my usage of the two words and realised that generally I use "whilst" to mean "although/despite/whereas" and "while" when I need to refer to time.

I went to the shops while my boyfriend went to the cinema. (Time - at the same time as)
I went to the shops, whilst my boyfriend went to the cinema. (Whereas)