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Marcos054 Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Past continuous/past simple question
Hello, I'd just like to ask if this sentence is grammatically correct.
'I met him two years ago while I worked in Germany.' I'm not sure if 'worked' is correct as I prefer 'was working'.
I hope you could help me with this question. Thanks.
'I met him two years ago while I worked in Germany.' I'm not sure if 'worked' is correct as I prefer 'was working'.
I hope you could help me with this question. Thanks.
Top answer
Hi, It's not wrong, but Continuous is more commonly used here. Clive
- Hi, It's not wrong, but Continuous is more commonly used here.
- Clive
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6 Answers
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Thank you so much Clive for your reply. Yes, it seems 'worked' is alright but when I thought of this sentence, ' My friend phoned me last night while I had dinner.', again I'm not sure if 'had' possible .
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In the pattern
... main clause (past) ... WHILE ... subordinate clause ...
your best bet is to use the past continuous in the while-clause if the main-clause verb is eventive (expresses an event rather than a state or habit).
[I met him / The phone rang / A car crashed into a light pole / The lights went out] while ... was ...-ing.
You don't always
... main clause (past) ... WHILE ... subordinate clause ...
your best bet is to use the past continuous in the while-clause if the main-clause verb is eventive (expresses an event rather than a state or habit).
[I met him / The phone rang / A car crashed into a light pole / The lights went out] while ... was ...-ing.
You don't always
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You don't always have to use the continuous, but it usually sounds more idiomatic that way.
Thanks again CJ. So what you mean is that the past simple 'worked' in my example sentence (in that context) is also correct but 'was working' sounds more natural?
Thanks again CJ. So what you mean is that the past simple 'worked' in my example sentence (in that context) is also correct but 'was working' sounds more natural?
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marcos054So what you mean is that the past simple 'worked' in my example sentence (in that context) is also correct but 'was working' sounds more natural?Yes.
CJ
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CalifJimGreat. Thanks a lot.marcos054So what you mean is that the past simple 'worked' in my example sentence (in that context) is also correct but 'was working' sounds more natural?Yes.
CJ
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