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Hrsanei Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
When or while in past continuous
Hi.
When and while have many functions and usages in different situations but I want to ask about their structures in past continuous interupted by a past simple action.
EX. He came in while I was sleeping on the sofa.
Ex. I was talking on the phone when my mother came into my room.
I have seen that in most cases we use past continuous after while and past simple after when, but is it a strict rule?
Can't we say He came in when I was sleeping on the sofa.
Thanks for your time and help in advance
When and while have many functions and usages in different situations but I want to ask about their structures in past continuous interupted by a past simple action.
EX. He came in while I was sleeping on the sofa.
Ex. I was talking on the phone when my mother came into my room.
I have seen that in most cases we use past continuous after while and past simple after when, but is it a strict rule?
Can't we say He came in when I was sleeping on the sofa.
Thanks for your time and help in advance
Top answer
hrsanei He came in when I was sleeping on the sofa. It's not natural. " I guess you know that.
- hrsanei He came in when I was sleeping on the sofa.
- It's not natural.
- " I guess you know that.
- I was asleep when he came in.
- He came in when I was asleep.
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1 Answers
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hrsaneiHe came in when I was sleeping on the sofa.It's not natural.
You could say, "I was sleeping on the sofa when he came in." I guess you know that.
I was asleep when he came in. He came in when I was asleep.
(No problem, but "while" is better for the second one.)
Have you read Jim's latest?
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