Contiuous or simple?
Hello,
both sentences you find on the bottom of this page are taken from an online fill in the gaps exercise. My students took that test but find it hard to understand why in each case only the first sentence is marked as correct. In the first example the reason why one should use the continuous form is because "When I started school" tells you the exact period in the past when this kind of reaction was provoked. In the second example the reference "in the evenings" seems to have the same effect. Nevertheless you would think that using the simple form in each case should also be possible, of course with less reference to the period of time.
Are there any other explanations and what do native speakers think about these two varieties of each sentence?
Really looking forward to hearing from you!
Lana
When I started school, the other children were always laughing at me because I was shorter than they were and ...
or / and
When I started school, the other children always laughed at me because I was shorter than they were and ...
Like many of my university companions, she got a part-time job and was working in the evenings as a part-time model.
or / and
Like many of my university companions, she got a part-time job and worked in the evenings as a part-time model.
Top answer
lana 104 other explanations The preference for the continuous may be due to the lack of any mention of specific occasions on which the laughter (or working) occurred. "because I was shorter" is not an occasion. But then there's this: They always laughed at me when I sneezed.
- lana 104 other explanations The preference for the continuous may be due to the lack of any mention of specific occasions on which the laughter (or working) occurred.
- "because I was shorter" is not an occasion.
- But then there's this: They always laughed at me when I sneezed.
- These occasions of sneezing triggered the laughter.
- "as a model" is not an occasion.
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lana 104other explanations
The preference for the continuous may be due to the lack of any mention of specific occasions on which the laughter (or working) occurred.
"because I was shorter" is not an occasion. But then there's this:
They always laughed at me when I sneezed.
These occasions of sneezing triggered the laughter.
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