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Tanner92 Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
past simple + past simple (BUT there should be at least one past continuous)
Hey all!
I am reading Jimmy Connor Autobiography and after 200 pages I met with two constructions I don´t get because I have always been thought something little bit different.
Here are the two structures:
I realized as I stood (as I was standing there would be my choice) in that hallowed space that I had finally reached the big-time.
...., but as we drove (as we were driving would by my choice) around we spotted a small club hidden.....
What´s the rule that there is no past continuous in the original sentences? I thought that the rule was something like I have to use past continuous to describe a longer action in the background and past simple for a shorter action which happened during that time.
Thanks!!
I am reading Jimmy Connor Autobiography and after 200 pages I met with two constructions I don´t get because I have always been thought something little bit different.
Here are the two structures:
I realized as I stood (as I was standing there would be my choice) in that hallowed space that I had finally reached the big-time.
...., but as we drove (as we were driving would by my choice) around we spotted a small club hidden.....
What´s the rule that there is no past continuous in the original sentences? I thought that the rule was something like I have to use past continuous to describe a longer action in the background and past simple for a shorter action which happened during that time.
Thanks!!
Top answer
Tanner92 I realized as I stood (as I was standing there would be my choice) in that hallowed space Either verb form is fine there; it is the author's choice. Tanner92 but as we drove (as we were driving would by my choice) around Either verb form is fine there; it is the author's choice. Tanner92 I thought that the rule was something like I have to use past continuous to describe a longer action in the background and past simple for a shorter action which happened during that time.
- Tanner92 I realized as I stood (as I was standing there would be my choice) in that hallowed space Either verb form is fine there; it is the author's choice.
- Tanner92 but as we drove (as we were driving would by my choice) around Either verb form is fine there; it is the author's choice.
- Tanner92 I thought that the rule was something like I have to use past continuous to describe a longer action in the background and past simple for a shorter action which happened during that time.
- That is a fine general rule; however, the author is often not concerned with the continuous action but just with its fact.
- These writers do not wish us to think about standing or driving for a long time, but only that those were the conditions under which the characters realized or spotted.
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1 Answers
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Tanner92I realized as I stood (as I was standing there would be my choice) in that hallowed spaceEither verb form is fine there; it is the author's choice.
Tanner92but as we drove (as we were driving would by my choice) aroundEither verb form is fine there; it is the author's choice.
Tanner92I thoug
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