How can I choose between “while verb+ing”, “when verb+ing” and “verb+ing”?
First sentence:
( While being || Be ) a good person, he ( devoured || had been devouring ) kittens.
In this sentence I mean that he was always a good person in the past, not only while devouring kittens.
( While
using || When using || Using ) the services, (you agree || you’re agreeing ) you agree to our Terms and Conditions.
The above variants are the same as “by using…, you’re agreeing”. What is difference?
Third sentence:
We follow these rules ( While providing [| providing () services)(..
“We,” the client, is obliged to follow these rules throughout the time we provide the services. “They’re always being enforced by us.” What do you mean when you say “over providing”?
Fourth sentence:
The main instrument for resolving such issues, this law must be applied.
Although this law has always been the principal instrument for solution for such issues since it entered into force, it is not only for a period of
time.
What you should keep in mind is “while” doesn’t only carry the literal meaning of “during a period of time”.
Why does the first sentence in a sentence differ from the last sentence to the end of the sentence depending on how much you believe it to be true. You obviously can’t use the word “while” to change your sentence with no pause.
“As a good person, he devoured kittens” means that he generally devours kittens because he’s a good person. Compare, for example, “Being stubborn as always, he disagreed with us” – it means that he disagreed with us because he was stubborn.
“While being a good person, he devoured kittens” means that the person is generally good but despite that they devour kittens. Is someone able to see the point of conversation, from the point of view of being rigid or stubborn?
In the second sentence, “while/when” might technically be correct, but it reads awkwardly – something like “you agree to our terms as long as you’re using the services”. I’d rather use “by using” here – meaning “starting to use the services is an implicit agreement to our terms”.
In the third one, “during providing” is ugly – you generally avoid two -ings in a row. They both exist but I think both are fine. However, using “while providing” reads better.
The fourth is a bit similar to the first – the meaning flips when you apply “While” to the sentence. So either low must be applied because it’s the main instrument etc. (without “while”), or despite that (with “while”).
