VOA慢速英语2021--As, While or Meanwhile?

This week on Ask a Teacher, we answer a question from Carmen in Mexico. She asks:

Question:

What are the differences between "as," "while" and "meanwhile"? Thanks for your help. Greetings from México.

Answer:

Hi Carmen! All three words inform us that two things are happening at the same time. Any of them can be used in place of the other when you want to express that idea. But, if you are ever unsure which one to use, choose "while."

While and as

We can use the word "while" or "as" to connect two actions or situations that happen at the same time. Listen to the examples:

While I was crossing the street, the traffic light turned red.

As I was crossing the street, the traffic light turned red.

But "while" is more common. "As" can sometimes sound formal – or even literary¹.

Notice that the structure² of the two sentence examples is the same. Only one word changes.

You can also put "as" or "while" in the middle of a sentence. For example, you can say, "The traffic light turned red as I was crossing the street."

Meanwhile

Now, let's talk about "meanwhile," which means³ "at or during the same time."

When we use "meanwhile," our sentence structure changes. Listen to how the speaker uses it:

I was crossing the street. Meanwhile, the traffic light turned red.

Here, you have two separate⁴ sentences describing what two things happened. "Meanwhile" comes at the start of the second sentence.

American English speakers generally use "meanwhile" when we are telling a lively or funny story about someone or something. For example, American comedian⁵ Stephen Colbert uses the word on his late-night television show to recount unusual news events.

Real journalists also use "meanwhile" in their reports. In news, it often signals⁶ a sudden⁷ change in a story's direction.

And finally, note that all three words have other meanings that they do not share.

That's Ask a Teacher for this week.

Words in This Story

formal – adj. suitable⁸ for serious or official speech and writing

literary – adj. of or relating to literature

comedian – n. a performer of humor

1 literary   

adj.文学（上）的

参考例句：

• Literary works of this kind are well received by the masses.这样的文学作品很受群众欢迎。
• The book was favourably noticed in literary magazines.这本书在文学杂志上得到好评。

2 structure   

n.结构，构造，建筑物；v.构成；

参考例句：

• Doctors study the structure of the human body.医生研究人体构造。
• A flower has quite a complicated structure.一朵花的结构相当复杂。

3 means   

n.方法，手段，折中点，物质财富

参考例句：

• That man used artful means to find out secrets.那人使用狡猾的手段获取机密。
• We must get it done by some means or other.我们总得想办法把它干完。

4 separate   

n.分开，抽印本；adj.分开的，各自的，单独的；v.分开，隔开，分居

参考例句：

• Are they joined together or separate?它们是合在一起还是分开的？
• Separate the white clothes from the dark clothes before laundering.洗衣前应当把浅色衣服和深色衣服分开。

5 comedian   

n.喜剧演员；滑稽演员

参考例句：

• The comedian tickled the crowd with his jokes.喜剧演员的笑话把人们逗乐了。
• The comedian enjoyed great popularity during the 30's.那位喜剧演员在三十年代非常走红。

6 signals   

n.信号( signal的名词复数 )；（无线电或电视所传送的）讯号；标志；（尤指铁路和公路上的）指示灯v.发信号，用信号传达，用信号通讯( signal的第三人称单数 )；发暗号；示意

参考例句：

• signals transmitted from a satellite 从卫星传送来的信号
• This metal tower is used to relay television signals to distant villages. 这个金属塔是用于向遥远的村子转播电视讯号的。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 sudden   

n.突然，忽然；adj.突然的，意外的，快速的

参考例句：

• All of a sudden he turned about and saw me.他突然转过身来看见了我。
• The horse was badly frightened by the sudden noise.那匹马被突然而来的嘈杂声吓坏了。

8 suitable   

adj.合适的，适当的，适宜的

参考例句：

• Tomorrow will be quite suitable.明天挺合适。
• Is she suitable for the job?她适于做这工作吗？