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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Past continous vs Past Simple
I that Ok?
‘What did you do this time yesterday?” I was asleep”.
Did you go out last night?’ ‘No, I was tired.’
Was Jane at the party last night?’ ‘Yes, she wore a really nice dress.
I met our teacher when I went to town.
‘What did you do this time yesterday?” I was asleep”.
Did you go out last night?’ ‘No, I was tired.’
Was Jane at the party last night?’ ‘Yes, she wore a really nice dress.
I met our teacher when I went to town.
Top answer
I would use the past continuous in the first sentence. The other two usages seem ok to me. With regard to sentences #2 and #3, the focus is not on the continuous action of wearing a dress and going to town.
- I would use the past continuous in the first sentence.
- The other two usages seem ok to me.
- With regard to sentences #2 and #3, the focus is not on the continuous action of wearing a dress and going to town.
- The focus of the second is on how she looked and the focus of the third is on where/when they met.
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3 Answers
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I would use the past continuous in the first sentence. The other two usages seem ok to me.
With regard to sentences #2 and #3, the focus is not on the continuous action of wearing a dress and going to town. The focus of the second is on how she looked and the focus of the third is on where/when they met.
With regard to sentences #2 and #3, the focus is not on the continuous action of wearing a dress and going to town. The focus of the second is on how she looked and the focus of the third is on where/when they met.
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Thanks, Ivanhr!
In the first, it's better:
What were you doing this time yesterday?” I was asleep.
And the second one?:
Did you go out last night?’ ‘No, I was tired.
#3 and #4 are OK, as I was writing.
In the first, it's better:
What were you doing this time yesterday?” I was asleep.
And the second one?:
Did you go out last night?’ ‘No, I was tired.
#3 and #4 are OK, as I was writing.
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‘What did you do this time yesterday?” I was asleep”. No. What were you doing (at / during) this time yesterday? The question is about an activity during a period of time.
Did you go out last night?’ ‘No, I was tired.’
Did you go out last night?’ ‘No, I was tired.’
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