Let’s talk about words that have been confusing us with its similarity to other words, like Affect vs. Effect, Lay vs. Lie.
This time, let’s clear things up between Awhile vs. A While.
Yeah, those two have different meaning and usage. And yes, Awhile is a legit word, not a typo.
Awhile is an adverd with the meaning “for a short time.” ‘Sebentar/dalam waktu singkat.’
As for A While, it is a noun with the meaning “a length of time”. ‘Dalam kurun waktu tertentu’.
Awhile: Sebentar // A While: Agak lama. This is the most basic difference.
Let’s see the examples:
1. The dog waited awhile for the meal to be prepared.
2. The cat has been sleeping for a while when the owner shows up.
Another trick: As seen is Example No. 2, A While is used after a preposition (In, After, For).
Example: We got bored after a while.
Example: She will be there in a while.
A While is also used in the expression “It’s been a while …” (“Udah lama ya nggak …”).
Example: “It’s been a while since last time we met a cute dog like this.”
All images by @animenur
Compiled by @animenurp for @EnglishTips4U on Sunday, 25 January 2015
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