simultaneous long actions: when?

[ademoglu]

Hi. We usually use while to say that two longer actions or situations go/went on at the same time.

While you were reading the paper, I was working.
Taken from Practical English Usage (page 68).

My question is: Is it OK to use when instead of while in the above sentence? If yes, is that difference in meaning?
When you were reading the paper, I was working.

 

[jutfrank]

Yes, it's okay. Yes, it's a different meaning.

 

[ademoglu]

Thanks for the answer, but I cannot understand how it has a different meaning. Can you please tell me how?

 

[jutfrank]

Forget about this example context for now. Try doing a web search on 'differences in meaning between when and while' and see if you can find any clear answers. If it's still not clear, come back here and tell us what you've found, what exactly you don't understand, and I'll explain it for you in my way.