When/While I was eating dinner, my mother called me.

[tzfujimino]

Hello.

I'd like to ask a question about the usage of 'when' and 'while'.

"When I was eating dinner, my mother called me."

Do I need to use 'while' instead of 'when' in the example above?

(I personally think both are possible.)

Thank you.

 

[bhaisahab]

Both are possible. I would write it like this, though: "My mother called me while I was having dinner."

 

[MikeNewYork]

Either would be OK.

 

[Rover_KE]

Click here to read earlier threads about the usage of when and while.