Why not use 'during' but 'while'?

[Peter]

English Grammar Tests, Elementary Level

ESL/EFL Test #94 "While, during and for", question 4

......... I was in Geneva I made lots of friends.

(a) While
(b) During
(c) For

English Grammar Tests, Elementary Level

ESL/EFL Test #94 "While, during and for", answer 4

While I was in Geneva I made lots of friends.

Correct answer: (a) While

Your answer was: incorrect
During I was in Geneva I made lots of friends.
_________________________

why not use 'during' but 'while' in the sentence?
please explain it for me.

thanks
peter

[Yankee]

Hi Peter

The words during and while have similar meanings but are used differently grammatically.

Here is a very basic explanation:

The word during is followed by a noun or noun phrase:
- During my vacation in Geneva I made lots of friends.


The word while is followed by a clause (subject + verb):
- While I was in Geneva I made lots of friends.

You would also use while in cases where a clause is understood, but some of the words have been omitted:
- While in Geneva I made lots of friends.
(The words "I was" are understood in this sentence.)

Amy