Various uses for "while"

[pammy56]

I know that "while" is used most often as a conjunction. For example, She cooked dinner while I set the table. However, is "while" being used as a preposition in the following sentence? I burned the stew while cooking dinner.
Thanks!

[Mister Micawber]

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'While' is no longer used as a preposition. In your second sentence, it is a conjunction introducing a nonfinite clause.
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_________________
Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mr. Micawber

[pammy56]

But it's not a clause! Example... She fell down while running the race. I know that "while running the race" is acting as an adverb, but that's not a clause...so how is "while" a conjunction?

[Mister Micawber]

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I repeat: it is a nonfinite participial clause.

Nonfinite Clause

A clause that contains a nonfinite verb, e.g. (1) To err is human contains a to-infinitive clause. (2) I made her laugh contains a bare infinitive clause. (3) Turning the corner, I ran over the vicar contains an -ing participle clause. (4) She sat in the corner, snubbed by her colleagues contains an -ed participle clause.

Please review your grammar book.
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_________________
Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mr. Micawber

[Molly]