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Reegis Posted 9 years ago
Grammar
As I walked along the street, I looked into the shop windows.
Hello.
I have just come across this sentence:
1) As I walked along the street, I looked into the shop windows.
Is the sentence above correct? I was taught that if I use the past simple this way in two consecutive sentences, then it means that both events happened one after another. However, in this case it doesn't make much sense. Normally, I would say it this way:
2) As I was walking along the street, I was looking into the shop windows.
Would it be more appropriate? Or maybe I am missing something?
I have just come across this sentence:
1) As I walked along the street, I looked into the shop windows.
Is the sentence above correct? I was taught that if I use the past simple this way in two consecutive sentences, then it means that both events happened one after another. However, in this case it doesn't make much sense. Normally, I would say it this way:
2) As I was walking along the street, I was looking into the shop windows.
Would it be more appropriate? Or maybe I am missing something?
Top answer
You may say either; in both cases the events are simultaneous.
- You may say either; in both cases the events are simultaneous.
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6 Answers
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You may say either; in both cases the events are simultaneous.
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As far as I know the past simple is normally used to events that happen one after, so how can I recognize that they are simultaneous (when the past simple is used) in a given situation? is it context that makes them simultaneous? Or simply the word 'as'?
For example here:
3a) They ate dinner, discussed their plans, and had a good time.
I think here we have consecutiv
For example here:
3a) They ate dinner, discussed their plans, and had a good time.
I think here we have consecutiv
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Reegisthe word 'as'There's your answer.
"while" does the same thing.
"when
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So, to sum up:
3a - consecutive
3b - parallel
3c - parallel
Would you normally choose 3b or 3c? I always thought that 3b is the standard choice in this context from the grammar point of view...
3a - consecutive
3b - parallel
3c - parallel
Would you normally choose 3b or 3c? I always thought that 3b is the standard choice in this context from the grammar point of view...
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Reegis3a - consecutive 3b - parallel 3c - parallelRight. (I would say 'simultaneous', not 'parallel'.)
ReegisWould you normally choose 3b or 3c?Probably 3b. Besides, 3c only works well for two things at the same time.
CJ
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