The second sentence, which uses the auxiliary seen, pairs with the auxiliary verb have to form the present perfect tense. The simple past tense describes actions or events that occurred in the past and are completed, with no connection to the present. Past participle: I’d seen this movie already, but if you want I’d watch it again.īoth sentences refer to something that took place and in the past, but the way they describe past events or actions differ. Past tense : He saw the film twice already. ‍ What’s the difference between saw and seen? If you want to know more about commonly confused words, definitions, and differences between US and UK spellings, make sure to check out some of our other language articles with explanations, examples, and quizzes.Irregular verbs with 3 forms ( see/ saw/ seen). “Awhile ago” and “awhile back” are never correct, as the adverb “awhile” must always modify a verb. “A while ago” and “a while back” both refer to an unspecified time in the past.A while ago, I saw a fox in the garden.In the second instance, the adverb “awhile” is used to modify the verb “stay.” In the first instance, the noun phrase “a while” is used to refer to an unspecified period of time. Here, both “a while” and “awhile” are correct.Jade hadn’t seen Jean-Paul in a while, so she asked him to stay awhile.In this instance, it’s modified by the adjective “later.” As a noun phrase, it can be modified by an adjective to qualify the unspecified period of time. Here, the noun phrase “a while” is correct.A while later, I realized I had lost my wallet.It means “a period of time” and is typically preceded by a preposition (e.g., “in”). It is an adverb meaning “for a short period of time.” In this instance, it is modifying the verb “sat.” Fill in “awhile” or “awhile” in each sentence. You can test your understanding of the difference between “awhile” and “a while” with the worksheet below. Example: A while back in a sentenceMy car broke down a while back, but it’s fixed now. “A while back” is incorrect you need the noun phrase a while, not the adverb awhile (which can only modify a verb). It’s commonly used to refer to an unspecified time in the past.

Awhile back or a while backĪ while back is synonymous with a while ago. Example: A while ago in a sentenceMassimo visited Florence a while ago, and he loved it. “Awhile ago” is incorrect-the adverb awhile must always modify a verb. Awhile ago or a while agoĪ while ago is commonly used to refer to an unspecified time in the past. If it still makes sense, a while is correct. TipIf you’re unsure whether you are using a while correctly, try replacing it with a specific measure of time (e.g., “a minute,” “an hour,” “a day”). I hope the band plays for a while longer. Examples: A while modified by an adjectiveLet’s go shopping in a little while. Pam spent a while trying to decide on a gift for Liz.Īs a noun phrase, a while can be modified by an adjective to qualify the unspecified period of time. Examples: A while in a sentenceYou need to leave in a while if you want to catch your train. A while is a noun phraseĪ while is a noun phrase (consisting of the indefinite article “a” and the noun “while”) meaning “a period of time.” It’s often preceded by a preposition (e.g., “for,” “in,” “after”). Stay awhile and chat! TipIf you’re unsure whether you are using awhile correctly, try replacing it with the exact phrase “for a while” or with the word “temporarily.” If it still makes sense, awhile is correct. It already includes the meaning of “for,” so you should not write “for awhile.” Examples: Awhile in a sentenceAfter his piano lesson, Will practiced awhile. Awhile is an adverb that means “for a period of time” or “for a while.” As an adverb, awhile always modifies a verb that precedes it in a sentence.

Seen vs saw difference