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Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Past continuous or past simple


Dear all,

I hope you can help me on this upcoming sentences. I need to know which tense is more appropriate and grammatically correct. The sentence goes as: I (not be) ........... rude when I left the party earlier.

a. I wasn't being rude when I left the party earlier.
b. I wasn't rude when I left the party earlier.

Thanks for your help,
  

Top answer

Well, A sounds more expected to me, but I cannot fault B.

— Mister Micawber

  • Well, A sounds more expected to me, but I cannot fault B.
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5 Answers
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Well, A sounds more expected to me, but I cannot fault B.
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Thanks for your reply. The same here. I consider both as correct. The first as more natural, but the second is also meaningfully and grammatically correct. I need justifications for both and I can't justify B.

Can you?
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What do you mean 'justify'?

I wasn't rude when I left the party: I didn't slam the door in the host's face.
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Thanks. What about 'wasn't being rude'? I meant a justification from a grammatical and sematic point of view.
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I wasn't being rude when I left the party: I was just sticking my tongue out at each guest I passed as a Slobbivian gesture of farewell.
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