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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
  

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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