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Voytaszek Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

While + past siimple

Can I use the past simple with while`, to describe an action from the past which continued for a while (one month)?

While I worked (for one year) for this company I didn`t meet new people.

Can I use the past continues in this case?

While I was working for this company I didn`t meet new people.
  

Top answer

The following would be normal ways to say these things: I didn't meet (any) new people while I was working for that company. I didn't meet (any) new people during the year I worked for / was working for that company. "that" seems more likely than "this" since the company is probably now viewed as distant from you rather than close.

— GPY

  • The following would be normal ways to say these things: I didn't meet (any) new people while I was working for that company.
  • I didn't meet (any) new people during the year I worked for / was working for that company.
  • "that" seems more likely than "this" since the company is probably now viewed as distant from you rather than close.
  • However, "this" would be possible in some contexts.
  • You are using the wrong character for the apostrophe.
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6 Answers
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The following would be normal ways to say these things:

I didn't meet (any) new people while I was working for that company.
I didn't meet (any) new people during the year I worked for / was working for that company.

"that" seems more likely than "this" since the company is probably now viewed as distant from you rather than close. However, "this" would be possi
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VoytaszekCan I use the past simple with while
Yes. "while" forces a continuous reading on a past simple verb. The pattern is used mostly when two different activities are going on at the same time.

Nero fiddled while Rome burned.
Tom ran wild through the supermarket while his mother shopped.
My wife sat in the shade and read
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But I can use the past continous here, right?

Nero fiddled while Rome was burning.
Tom ran wild through the supermarket while his mother was shopping.
My wife sat in the shade and read fashion magazines while I was washing the car.

Is there any difference in meaning?

What about sentences wich describe longer acions (lasting, let`s say, a mont
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VoytaszekBut I can use the past continous here, right?
Yes.
VoytaszekIs there any difference in meaning?
No.
VoytaszekWhat about sentences with which describe longer ac
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So it`s better to use the past continuous for both verbs?

I was talking with my friends in a bus while I was going to school.(almost every day for a month)
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VoytaszekSo it`s better to use the past continuous for both verbs?
For that sentence I would write

I used to talk with my friends on the bus on my way to school.

"almost every day for a month" seems totally out of place and irrelevant to my ear.

CJ
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