While phrase

[move5000]

[FONT=&quot]Hi, is this sentence correct?

While teaching them some reading skills, students will acquire vocabulary.

thank you
[/FONT]

 

[Barb_D]

No, the "teaching" is done by the teachers, but the students are the subject of the independent clause.

If you change it to "While learning [or better, developing] reading skills, student will..." then it's okay.

 

[apex2000]

Whilst teaching them some reading skills, students should/ may/ ought to increase their vocabulary.
'will acquire' is too positive - what if some of them do not?

 

[bhaisahab]

Whilst teaching them some reading skills, students should/ may/ ought to increase their vocabulary.
'will acquire' is too positive - what if some of them do not?

How does "whilst" make that sentence more correct than "while"?

 

[vil]

Probably you have to use "whereas" instead of "while".

whereas = consideri that; it being the case that; since; -- used to introduce a preamble which is the basis of declarations, affirmations, commands, requests, or like, that follow

V.

 

[corum]

[FONT=&quot]Hi, is this sentence correct?

While teaching them some reading skills, students will acquire vocabulary.

thank you
[/FONT]

The participial clause modifies the VP in the main clause, "will acquire". The low clause's implied subject (teachers?) should corefer with that of the high clause, with "students". But apparently it does not:

1. students do not teach,
2. let alone acquire vocabulary while they teach reading skills.

While teaching them some reading skills, students will acquire vocabulary. :cross:
While developing reading skills, students will acquire vocabulary. :tick:

While we help them develop their reading skills, students will acquire... :tick:

 

[apex2000]

How does "whilst" make that sentence more correct than "while"?

I have tended to prefer the use of whilst for the conjunction to avoid and draw attention to the other use of while as a noun. That, in turn, helps the understanding of colloquial uses such as once in a while/ all the while/ worth someone's while. The aim is to increase the use of a dictionary and from there a better understanding.

 

[Raymott]

I have tended to prefer the use of whilst for the conjunction to avoid and draw attention to the other use of while as a noun. That, in turn, helps the understanding of colloquial uses such as once in a while/ all the while/ worth someone's while. The aim is to increase the use of a dictionary and from there a better understanding.

But the question wasn't, "Why do you use 'whilst' instead of 'while'?"
It was, "How does using "whilst" instead of "while" make the sentence grammatically correct?"