A while vs. awhile.
There really is a difference between a while and awhile.
Awhile is an adverb, which means it modifies a verb. The definition of awhile is “for a time”. It would be repeating to say “The dragon wishes you to stay for awhile”, which reads as “The dragon wishes you to stay for for a time.”
The dragon wishes to speak to you for a while if you are able to stay awhile.
The key is to watch for the word for. The dragon either wants you to stay for a while (a period of time) or he wants you to stay awhile (for a time).
“While” can be a noun, conjunction, adverb, verb, or a preposition.
While as a noun:
The dragon chatted for a while (a period of time) about how he hoped it was worth the king’s while (trouble) to listen.
The dragon drew a map, talking the while (at the same time; meanwhile).
While as a conjunction:
The dragon didn’t accomplish much while (during the time that) the princess was away.
The dragon wants to play, while (whereas) the magician wants to study.
While as an adverb:
The times while (during which) the dragon sleeps are the quietest times.
While as a verb:
The dragon can find all kinds of distractions to while (pass time in a leisurely manner) away the day when he should be studying grammar.
While as a preposition:
The dragon will be grouchy while (until) dinner time. The preposition “while” is used to represent the length of time an action has been happening. “While” used this way is old-fashioned.
copyright 2016 The Dragon Grammar Book by Diane Mae Robinson, multi-award winning author of The Pen Pieyu Adventures series, dragon books for children. www.dragonsbook.com