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Anonymous Posted 5 years ago
Grammar

Is talking - are watching

An inmate is talking on the phone while two guard are watching him.


Is "while" correct here? Would "as" work, too?

When I start the sentence in the present continuous (is talking) is "are watching" expected or would "watch" be OK, too? What do you prefer?

  

Top answer

anonymous Is "while" correct here? Sort of. I would say it implies too much of a connection between the two activities.

— Anonymous

  • anonymous Is "while" correct here?
  • Sort of.
  • I would say it implies too much of a connection between the two activities.
  • "He stood up and sang 'Dixie' while the Robert E.
  • " anonymous Would "as" work, too?
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2 Answers
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anonymousIs "while" correct here?

Sort of. I would say it implies too much of a connection between the two activities. "He stood up and sang 'Dixie' while the Robert E. Lee paddled past his dock on its way up the Mississippi."

anonymousWould "as" work, too?

Same as "while" but even worse.

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anonymousAn inmate is talking on the phone while two guard are watching him.

Sorry, but it sounds backwards to me.

Two guards watch while/as an inmate talks on the phone.
Two guards watch while an inmate is talking on the phone.

Also possible:

Two guards [watch / are watching] an inmate [talk/talking] on the phone.

CJ

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