1、when是at or during the time that，既指时间点，也可指一段时间；
while是during the time that，只指一段时间，因此when引导的时间状语从句中的动词可以是终止性动词，也可以是延续性动词，而while从句中的动词必须是延续性动词。
2、when 说明从句的动作和主句的动作可以是同时，也可以是先后发生；while 则强调主句的动作在从句动作的发生的过程中或主从句两个动作同时发生。
3、由when引导的时间状语从句，主句用过去进行时，从句应用一般过去时；如果从句和主句的动作同时发生，两句都用过去进行时的时候，多用while引导，如：
a、When the teacher came in，we were talking.
当此句改变主从句的位置时，则为：While we were talking，the teacher came in.
b、They were singing while we were dancing.
4、when和while 还可作并列连词。when表示“在那时”；while表示“而、却”，表对照关系。如：
a、The children were running to move the bag of rice when they heard the sound of a motor bike。孩子们正要跑过去搬开那袋米，这时他们听到了摩托车的声音。
b、He is strong while his brother is weak.
他长得很结实，而他弟弟却很瘦弱。
扩展资料：
when与what time的用法区分
what time常用来问钟点，而when除了问钟点外，还可用来问日期，月份，年份等。
有时两者可以换用，有的场合不可以。
1、问钟点时，可以换用。When do you go to school?What time do you go to school?
2、问日期，月份，年份等，只能用whenWhen were you born? I was born on July 2，1972.
3、当问某事在某天的什么具体时间进行，只能用what timeWhat time did you call this afternoon?I called at 4:00 this afternoon.