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Past Continuous + Past Simple. We often use the Past Continuous tense with the Past Simple tense. We use the Past Continuous to express a long action. And we use the Past Simple to express a short action that happens in the middle of the long action. We can join the two ideas with when or while.. In the following example, we have two actions:

May 14, 2021 · While . Now, look at this example: While I was making lunch, the phone rang. Here, the first action is in the past continuous tense. That means the action, making lunch, took place over a period ...

As, when or while ? - English Grammar Today - a reference to written and spoken English grammar and usage - Cambridge Dictionary

May 01, 2016 · The past continuous is usually written in a tense with a phrase in the past tense where the action has been completed; The conjunctions ‘when’ and ‘while’ are commonly used to connect the past continuous with the past simple in a sentence. Consider the following example sentences and their variations. EXAMPLE 1

Past Continuous Tips While vs. When . Clauses are groups of words which have meaning, but are often not complete sentences. Some clauses begin with the word when such as "when she called" or "when it bit me." Other clauses begin with while such as "while she was sleeping" and "while he was surfing." When you talk about things in the past, when is most often followed by the verb …

While vs. When: In Conclusion · To emphasize (focus) that an action was in progress at a specific time, use while + a progressive tense ( = While I was eating, …) ...

14.05.2021 · While . Now, look at this example: While I was making lunch, the phone rang. Here, the first action is in the past continuous tense. That …

A short grammar lesson for English students which focuses on how to use the past simple tense and the past continuous tense together with 'When' and 'While' ...

The thing is, the whole "when" for simple past and "while" for past continuous thing is more of a guideline than a hard and fast rule. "While" ...

13.08.2020 · Progressive tenses use the BE verb + a verb in ~ing form. While I was cooking dinner, the phone rang.. I will be sleeping at 11:00 p.m. tonight, so don’t phone me.. We use while to focus on an action happening at a specific time. Therefore, the most natural verb tense to use is a progressive tense, which shows that an action is in progress at a certain time.

When we use these two tenses together, it shows us that the past simple action happened in the middle of the past continuous action, while it was in ...

The past continuous is used when there is a more punctive occurrence during that process: He saw a mouse as he was waiting while I was combing my hair. While he was staying there for several months, he was discovered by an MI7 agent.

We often use them with the past continuous to refer to background events: When the men were out working in the field, I helped with milking ...

The past continuous (also called past progressive) is a verb tense which is used to show that an ongoing past action was happening at a specific moment of ...

As, when or while ? - English Grammar Today - a reference to written and spoken English grammar and usage - Cambridge Dictionary

So as a general rule, you should use “while” in a clause with a continuous action, using a verb in a continuous tense. Use “when” in a clause ...

25.01.2016 · A short grammar lesson for English students which focuses on how to use the past simple tense and the past continuous tense together with 'When' and 'While' ...

09.02.2012 · WHEN/WHILE PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE & PAST SIMPLE 1. Past Continuous Tense 2. Form of Past Continuous Tense: Positive Sentence books. reading was He, She, It happily. dancing were You, We, They to music. listening was I modifier.

Use of the simple past does not preclude an extended action / state, or there wouldn't be a simple past tense of say 'wait'. He waited while I combed my hair. He stayed there for several months. The past continuous is used when there is a more punctive occurrence during that process: He saw a mouse as he was waiting while I was combing my hair.

Right now, I’m recording a video while my husband is working. We have two continuous action, I’m recording and my husband is working. I’m recording a video while my husband is working. Or here’s an example in the past, last night, I was watching TV while my father was sleeping. Again, we have two continuous actions.

18.05.2015 · While is usually used with past continuous tense. When is usually used with past simple tense. ⬤ Usage 3- Parallel actions in the past. You can use past continuous tense with two actions happening at the same time without interrupting each other. These are called parallel actions in the past. While I was waiting for her, she was sleeping in ...

But for 'background' action/situations, i.e. one short + one long action, the past continuous is used for the longer 'background' event in contrast. e.g. While ...