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jessica farias
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when / while
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As your advice is always really helpful, I �m bothering you again.
I �m a bit confused as I have seen in a book that the structure to combine past simple and past continuous in a sentence using when or while was a t follows:
when + past simple
while + past continuous
"When I saw the accident, I was going home. "
"I saw the accident while I was going home. "
But then in another book there was an example saying :
"When Sara was watching TV, the telphone rang."
Is it also correct???? So what is the rule to teach?? What �s the difference between them???
Thanks in advance!!!!
Jessica
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13 Nov 2009
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Anielka_su
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I believe that you can use "when" with both Past Simple and Continuous but you use "while" only with Past Continuous. regards :)
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13 Nov 2009
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Tatyana83
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agree with Anielka_su
Want to add.
While is ALSO used in the meanning of COURSE -
I find 5$ under my bad WHILE I was searching for a book.
I lost my 5$ while I was working in the garden.
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13 Nov 2009
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barhoma07
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i support anielka view
that is to say "when" is used with simple and continous past for both short and long actions ."while" is just for long actions . |
13 Nov 2009
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libertybelle
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I probably would say
When I saw the accident, I was on my way home.
Or I saw the accident while on my way home.
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13 Nov 2009
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flaviatl
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After "when", you can have either simple past or past continuous as the examples you gave clearly show.
When she was watching TV... or
When I saw the accident...
But after "while" you can only have past continuous:
I saw the accident while I was going home. (OK)
While I saw the accident (WRONG)
I hope this helps.
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13 Nov 2009
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jessica farias
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I saw Peter when I was shopping with Mel.
I saw Peter while I was shopping with Mel.
So both sentences are correct. Right?
Thanks a lot!!!! You are always helpful!!!
Jessica
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13 Nov 2009
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volga
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When and while are often synonymous.
Here �s an example from the book "Otherwise Engaged": They chatted for a minute while they helped themselves to salad fixings.
I wouldn �t use continuous after while here.
This is just one of many examples that I could give you.
Cheers!
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13 Nov 2009
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ramon.moravski
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I usually tell my students to observe which action is longer. In your example you say: "When I was watching TV the phone rang". Certainly the action of watching TV is much longer as a phone ringing. Probably that�ll help to come to a conclusion of using continous or simple past.
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13 Nov 2009
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