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Ask for help > when or while
when or while
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miyoko71
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when or while
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when I was reading the novel,the light went off. Isn �t it better to say: �The light went off;while I was reading the novel � we often say that with �when � we use the past simple and not the past continuous thx for your help |
7 Dec 2016
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monkeymemild
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I �m teaching my students about this topic. And I agree with you. We often use �when � before Past Simple Tense and �while � before Past Continuous Tense. So, I �d be better to say �The light went out while I was reading the novel/ While I was reading the novel, the light went out. � (For me, I use went out not went off) Hope this can help :) |
7 Dec 2016
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yanogator
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You �re both right. The difference is whether the second action is an interruption (which would use the past continuous) or just a sequence of events (simple past). When I opened the door, the cat jumped off the table. (simple sequence of events) While I was opening the door, the cat ran between my legs. (interruption) Bruce |
7 Dec 2016
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miyoko71
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so using the past continuous with when is a mistake. |
7 Dec 2016
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Mr. TITA
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Dear Myoko, This is a very interesting remark. I noticed that most Moroccan teachers mistakeably use it. It even exists in textbooks. we should normally say: While I was watching a film, somebody knocked on the door. I was watching a film when somebody knocked on the door. The short action interrupts the long one. we normally introduce the long action with while and the short action with when. when the two actions are long and happen in the same time we use the past continuous introduced with while: while I was reading a novel, my brother was watching TV. hope this can help.
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8 Dec 2016
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miyoko71
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thx for your help. I ve found this example in a website and it didn t sound to me good to use the past continuous with when.So I wanted to make sure. when is used for a short action that interrupts a long action |
9 Dec 2016
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