Can we use both Past simple and past continuous

Question

Hello,I have a question about the uses of past simple and past continuous tenses. It's a fill in blanks question.Here it is:While I _____(look) through my photos, Eric_____(watch) YouTube videos. I think the answer should be "was looking/was watching" as it indicates two parallel actions in progress.However, in the second part can "watched" be accepted as a correct/suitable answer?Thanks,

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

tomengpast simple and past continuous

"while" forces a continuous reading on the following verb even if it's not in a continuous tense.

While I looked through my photos, Eric watched YouTube videos.
While I was looking through my photos, Eric was watching YouTube videos.
While I looked through my photos, Eric was watching YouTube videos.
While I was looking through my photos, Eric watched YouTube videos.

All of the sentences above are possible.

CJ

Tomeng · Answer

Thanks for your answer.
Can you also comment on the difference in the meaning they bring to the sentence? I thought when we use past simple we are describing an action which is relatively shorter than the continuous form. so in that sense isn't it awkward to describe watching youtube videos as something completed quickly while looking to photos takes time in the past? Watching youtube takes time when you compare it with actions like break a glass or come home, call somebody.

Thanks

CalifJim · Answer

tomengI thought when we use past simple we are describing an action which is relatively shorter than the continuous form.

Yes, but not with "while".

tomengso in that sense isn't it awkward to describe watching youtube videos as something completed quickly while looking to photos takes time in the past? ...

Don't worry about that. You have "while".

CJ

Can we use both Past simple and past continuous

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