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Old 10-Sep-2008, 09:52
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Default Which tense?

Which tense should I use in this context?
"All last month I (have) ...exams. "

I think it should be "All last month I was having exams"because the sentence seems to emphasize the duration of the action. However, my teacher said that I should you use Simple Past.....So confusing!!!!
Could anyone help?

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Old 10-Sep-2008, 10:35
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Default Re: Which tense?

You should use the simple past (had) because you are referring to something which is completed (last month's exams); you are clearly marking a specific beginning and end.

We use the continuous to refer to the process itself, without emphasising the beginning or end, for instance

I was taking an exam when a man burst into the room!

Whether or not I finished the exam is unimportant, what is important here is what happened during the process of taking the exam.

I am not a teacher.
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