Posted by rfvv on Monday, August 25, 2014 at 4:45am.
1. It's been a long time.
2. It's been a while.
3. I haven't seen you for a while.
4. Long time no see.
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Are they all the same in meaning?
Does 'a while' mean ' a long time' or 'a short time'?
English - Writeacher, Monday, August 25, 2014 at 9:14am
All mean about the same thing, yes.
'A while' is indefinite, but usually implies a long time.
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Thank you for your help.
1. He rested a while.
2. He rested for a long time.
3. He rested for a short time.
(What does #1 mean, #2 or #3?)
It could be either one, depending on the context.
For example, if he were hiking a steep trail with a group of friends, he probably rested for a short time -- so he wouldn't be left behind and lose track of the others.
OR ... he could have been ill and needed to rest as much as possible.
Context helps to decide!
Based on the given sentences, here's how to determine the meaning of each option:
1. "He rested a while."
In this sentence, "a while" means an unspecified but short amount of time. It implies that he took a brief rest.
2. "He rested for a long time."
In this sentence, "for a long time" explicitly states that he rested for a significant duration. It indicates that he took a lengthy rest.
3. "He rested for a short time."
In this sentence, "for a short time" explicitly states that he rested for a brief duration. It indicates that he took a quick rest.
Therefore, option #1 means that he rested for a short, unspecified period of time.