PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE
Join the sentences by using while and when.
1) I hurt my knee. I was playing football.
———————————————– . (when)
———————————————-. (while)
2) They were talking about the exam results. The manager came in.
______________________________________________________. (when)
______________________________________________________. (while)
3) Gaye lost her wallet. She was walking in a crowded street.
______________________________________________________.(when)
______________________________________________________. (while)
4) Somebody stole my i-pod. I was speaking to a friend on the phone.
_______________________________________________________. (when)
_______________________________________________________. (while)
5) We were getting ready for the picnic. It started to rain.
_______________________________________________________.(when)
_______________________________________________________. (while)
KEY
1. I was playing football when I hurt my knee.
While I was playing fotball, I hurt my knee.
2. When the manager came in, they were talking about the exam results.
While they were talking about the exam results, the manager came in.
3. When Gaye lost her wallet, she was walking in a crowded street.
Gaye lost her wallet while she was walking in a crowded street.
4. I was speaking to a friend on the phone when somebody stole my i-pod.
While I was speaking to a friend on the phone, somebody stole my i-pod.
5. We were getting ready for the picnic when it started to rain.
While we were getting ready for the picnic, it started to rain.
June 17th, 2009 at 3:54 am
hello. Well, I learned we must use “while” to mean two actions or more ones are happening in the meantime. For example: I was litening to music while my mom was cooking.And we must use “when” to mean an action is interrupted for another one. For example: I was coming out when it began to rain. What do you think?
June 19th, 2009 at 11:23 pm
Hi,
As you said we use “while” with past continuous. However, it is possible to use “when” with past continuous tense. We usually use “while” with past continuous. I mean it is not a rule not to use “when” with past continuous.
October 14th, 2009 at 2:04 pm
Thank you for your exercises. They are useful, not very difficult.
October 22nd, 2009 at 7:36 pm
XD
November 1st, 2009 at 4:13 pm
we did that exercisez in the class and before the English exam .Really those are so useful to our learn
Thank you …