In this English lesson, you will learn the definition and how to use the English prepositions FOR and DURING.
During
Mark went skiing during the winter.
“during” tells us WHEN Mark went skiing.
In this example, it means “in the winter.”
We use “during” before nouns and noun phrases.
For
Mark went skiing for 2 weeks.
“for” tells us HOW LONG Mark went skiing.
We use “for” before a period of time to refer to duration.
“for” tells us the duration: 2 weeks.
Meaning of “during”
The preposition “during” has 2 main definitions and uses:
“throughout the period”
From the start of a period and until the end of a period of time, something happens.
“in the course of an action or event”
In the middle of an action or event, something happens. That is why we say “during” tells us WHEN something happens.
Examples of “during”:
I use my car during the winter.
I went to the toilet 5 times during the exam.
My phone rang during the film.
The dog barked during the storm.
The journalist was busy during the election.
“During” – The form
during + noun phrase
Often the noun phrase is an event.
Examples:
DURING +
the meeting
the lesson
the concert
the exam
the party
the spring
the summer
the autumn
the winter
the morning
the afternoon
the night
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Comparing “for” and “during”
Example 1
Before a meeting, Mark says to his secretary:
Mark: “I will be in a meeting for 3 hours.”
Secretary: “Ok, I will take your messages.”
(He is telling her that the meeting will last 3 hours. The duration of the meeting is 3 hours.)
After the meeting, his secretary says to Mark:
Secretary: “Mark, a customer called during your meeting.”
(The customer called in the course of the meeting. “during the meeting” does not describe the length of the phone call. “during” tells us WHEN the customer called.)
Example 2
Jane fell asleep during the lesson.
(Jane fell asleep in the middle of the lesson.)
Jane fell asleep for 10 minutes during the lesson.
(Jane fell asleep in the middle of the lesson. The duration of her sleep was 10 minutes.)
Example 3
It snowed during the night.
(It snowed at some point in the night. We are not specifying the duration.)
It snowed for 6 hours during the night.
(We are specifying the duration (for 6 hours))
Common mistake
We do NOT use DURING before a period of time to refer to duration:
Sarah has known Jane during 10 years. 
Sarah has known Jane for 10 years. 
I have been reading during 3 hours.
I have been reading for 3 hours.
I went to London during 3 days.
I went to London for 3 days.
English Prepositions FOR and DURING – English video lesson
Watch this English lesson on the Crown Academy of English YouTube channel to see more examples and to listen to the correct English accent.
B. Sand says
19th February 2017 at 9:59 pmDo you have a lesson on auxiliary verbs?
Jose luiz says
9th May 2017 at 1:40 pmGoodyear classe, claro and well explained. Than you!
alpa says
23rd June 2017 at 9:22 amThank you Andrew, its really helpful
1. During the heavy traffic, I was stuck in it so I was not able to reach on time on work place.
2. During the recession, it was difficult to survive on job market.
3. I was in India during the charisms time for 5 weeks.
4. OR
5. I was in India for 5 weeks during Chrisms.
6. During the peak time or the schools holiday , travelling through public service was costly as well as time consuming