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Olive file 673 Posted 7 years ago
Grammar

Drove or was driving

Is it true that if I say "Joe got a ticket because he drove too fast", this means that Joe drove too fast as a habit and instead I should say "Joe got a ticket because he was driving too fast"?

Is it true that "Joe drove too fast last night" and "Joe was driving too fast last night" can be used interchangeably?

  

Top answer

olive file 673 Is it true that if I say "Joe got a ticket because he drove too fast", this means that Joe drove too fast as a habit No. Not true. Because of the context ( He got a ticket ) the listener knows that the speaker is trying to say that on one occasion he was driving too fast, but the listener also knows that 'drove too fast' is the wrong choice in that sentence.

  • olive file 673 Is it true that if I say "Joe got a ticket because he drove too fast", this means that Joe drove too fast as a habit No.
  • Not true.
  • Because of the context ( He got a ticket ) the listener knows that the speaker is trying to say that on one occasion he was driving too fast, but the listener also knows that 'drove too fast' is the wrong choice in that sentence.
  • olive file 673 instead I should say "Joe got a ticket because he was driving too fast"?
  • Yes, you should definitely say that.
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1 Answers
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olive file 673Is it true that if I say "Joe got a ticket because he drove too fast", this means that Joe drove too fast as a habit

No. Not true. Because of the context (He got a ticket) the listener knows that the speaker is trying to say that on one occasion he was driving too fast, but the listener also knows that 'drove too fast' is the wrong ch

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