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I am about the teach my students past simple and past con. using in the same sentence.. Can anyone tell me if there is a difference between the following sentences:
When I was having shower, the telephone rang.
While I was having shower, the telephone rang.
(the book that I ´m using gives all the examples like the first one)
Hello
Actually the first sentence is not correct because the verb that follows when must be in the simple past and the second one is in the past continuous. The action that follows "when" is short while the other one takes time. Therefor the action must be in the SP not in PC.
as far as ı know we use simple past tense after using "when" and we use past continious tense after using "while"
for example:
when the telephone rang, ı was having shower
or
while ı was having shower, the telephone rang.
those are the correct usages and both of them have the same meaning you can compare it with Turkish meanings of the sentances, it will be better for you to clarify the meaning
