What's the difference between "as", "when" and "while"?
The doorbell rang as/when/while Anna was asleep.
Which is right and why?
differencetime
What's the difference between "as", "when" and "while"?
The doorbell rang as/when/while Anna was asleep.
Which is right and why?
Best Answer
While is used only about a continuous state, and another event or state that happens during that time. It does not imply or refute causality.
When implies a causal relationship between two things: when X happens Y happens. It can be used about a single event, an intermittent state or a continuous state
When as is used about time, it implies two events or states happening by chance at the same time
As @Peter pointed out, as can also mean because.
The best word to use in your example is while. When is not suitable because there is no causality. As is possible and clear in this case, but may be ambiguous in similar situations.