0
Lawn2llawn2 Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Past continuos or past tense

Hi,

I have a question about which one to use in this dialogue

A: Oh, I see. What did you do yesterday?
B: I met the representatives from Ave's in the morning. In the afternoon, I worked on the report and was just finishing/just finished when you telephoned. What did you do?

Can I say both? Do they have different meaning?

Thanks a lot
  

Top answer

The most usual combination is that you were do ing something when something else happen ed ( interrupt ed ). I was just finish ing when you telephon ed . Similarly, note the underlined elements below.

— CalifJim

  • The most usual combination is that you were do ing something when something else happen ed ( interrupt ed ).
  • I was just finish ing when you telephon ed .
  • Similarly, note the underlined elements below.
  • I was read ing a book when my brother phon ed .
  • Susan was wash ing the dishes when her friend Laura dropp ed by to visit.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

11 Answers
0
The most usual combination is that you were doing something when something else happened (interrupted).

I was just finishing when you telephoned.

S
0
0
What about if I want to say that I finished my report just a few minutes before he phoned. Can I say " I just finished my report when you phoned" to express that?

Thank you

Liya
0
0
lawn2llawn2What about if I want to say that I finished my report just a few minutes before he phoned. Can I say " I just finished my report when you phoned" to express that?Thank youLiya
I'd use present perfect since the action happened just recently "few minutes ago"

"I have just finished/done my report when you phoned."
0
0
lawn2llawn2Can I say " I just finished my report when you phoned" to express that?
You need this one:

I had just finished my report when you phoned.

CJ
0
0
You have to use 'past perfect' then, because it's an action which happens before another. (CalifJim's version)
0
0
Hello teacher CJ,

I'm not a native speaker so I need your expert opinion. Kindly correct my understanding. I hope you don't mind.

From the original post it says "the report has been done a few minutes ago" when someone phoned.

scenario I: at that evening
The phone rings.........ringggg ringgg
A: Hello! blah blah blah..
B: Have you finished the report
0
0
mudclayFrom the original post it says "the report has been done a few minutes ago" when someone phoned.
No. That's not what the original post says. There's nothing about "a few minutes ago". It says this:

<<I met the representatives from Ave's in the morning. In the afternoon, I worked on the report and was just finishing/just finis
0
0
Hello CJ,

Thank you very much and I'm sorry my mistake I didn't mean the original post what I meant was this post 'What about if I want to say that I finished my report just a few minutes before he phoned. Can I say " I just finished my report when you phoned" to express that?.. but still as you mentioned it's incorrect to use present perfect.

Now I know that "has/have + p
0
0
"a while ago" indicates a specific time, just like a few minutes ago. Non-specific time is like "for 2 years" (not a point in time)

Liya
0
0
mudclay'What about if I want to say that I finished my report just a few minutes before he phoned. Can I say " I just finished my report when you phoned" to express that?
Yes.

I just finished my report when you phoned. OK.
I have just finished my report. OK.
I have just finished my report when you phoned. WRONG.

Lik
0

Related Questions