Differences between simple and progressive past
I have a few sentences in which I don't know which tense to use.
In the first sentence, I want to describe how a zoom meeting ended, but everybody stayed. So should I say:
- I saw that everybody was staying.
or
- I saw that everybody stayed.
and without saw, would It be everybody was staying or everybody stayed?
In the second sentence, I want to describe what someone thought of me while writing a book. So should I say:
- Every time I was writing something, she was impressed.
or
- Every time I wrote something, she was impressed.
For the last sentence, I know that when the teacher asks you why you were absent yesterday, you should say "I was sleeping". However, if it's a shorter action such as putting on socks, should I say, "I put on my socks", or, "I was putting on my socks"?
I'd also like to know why the correct answer is correct.
Top answer
pen pen 141 In the first sentence, I want to describe how a zoom meeting ended, but everybody stayed. So should I say: I saw that everybody was staying. or I saw that everybody stayed.
- pen pen 141 In the first sentence, I want to describe how a zoom meeting ended, but everybody stayed.
- So should I say: I saw that everybody was staying.
- or I saw that everybody stayed.
- You can use either one, but I prefer the second.
- Examples: When the zoom meeting ended, nobody left; they all stayed around for a few minutes to chat.
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pen pen 141In the first sentence, I want to describe how a zoom meeting ended, but everybody stayed. So should I say:
I saw that everybody was staying. or
I saw that everybody stayed.
You can use either one, but I prefer the second.
Examples:
When the zoom meeting ended, nobody left; they all stayed around for a few minutes t
0pen pen 141 Differences between simple and progressive past
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