0
Lawn2llawn2 Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Past tense and past continuous: the difference

Hi all,

I have a question about the meaning of sentence using past tense and past continuous. Is my conclusion below right?

a. Last night at 6 PM, I ate dinner.
means: I started eating at 6 PM
b. Last night at 6 PM, I was eating dinner.
means: I started earlier; and at 6 PM, I was in the process of eating dinner

Thanks in advance

Liya
  

Top answer

That's right, Liya. Also, please note that past continuous almost always requires another past action in the context: Last night at 6 PM, I was eating dinner when the phone rang.

— Mister Micawber

  • That's right, Liya.
  • Also, please note that past continuous almost always requires another past action in the context: Last night at 6 PM, I was eating dinner when the phone rang.
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.

2 Answers
0
That's right, Liya. Also, please note that past continuous almost always requires another past action in the context:

Last night at 6 PM, I was eating dinner when the phone rang.
0

Related Questions