while + Present Simple/Continuous (2025)

Hello, there's one thing confusing me. In this example (taken from a grammar exercise):

She usually feeds the cat and switches on the TV to watch the news while she has/is having breakfast.

is has or is having correct? Or maybe both sound good? I know that there's usually implying Present Simple, but on the other hand while seems to refer to an action in progress. I'd like to know what the opinion of native speakers is.

I am not a native speaker but I think the best answer is:

She usually feeds the cat and switches on the TV to watch the news while she is having breakfast.

I apply the same thinking like you; the word while seems to refer to an action in progress.

Any other thoughts?

I am trying to connect two sentences using while and I am not sure if the tense after while . My teacher says that when describing two actions that happens at the same time in the future tense, I have to use progressive in a clause that start with while. But I think presnet is also fine. What do you think?

He will tidy up the house and I will do the shopping.
-> While he is tidying up the house, I will do the shopping.
-->While I am doing the shopping, he will tidy up the house.
--> While he tidies up the house, I will do the shopping.
--> While I do the shopping, he will tidy up the house.

We are going to cut the grass. You will pick the apples.
_> While we are cutting the grass, you will pick the apples.
--> While you are picking the apples, we are going to cut the grass.
--> While we cut the grass, you will pick the apples.
--> While you pick the apples, We are going to cut the grass.

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Hello Parla,

I have a question, if I was talking to a friend and I tried to explain what that I would be standing next to them while they were talking what tense would I have to use?

While you talk, I’ll just stand there and listen
While you are talking, I’ll be standing there listening
While you talk, I’ll be listening
While you are talking, I’ll stand there

I take it that you want to suggest that for all the time that your friend is talking, you will be standing there listening. Your sentences are fine.

The only sentence that might suggest something different is the last one. It might mean that you will go and stand there at some point during his talk. I would add "just", as you did in your first sentence.