He was sleeping/had been sleeping when...

[Tan Elaine]

He was sleeping for five hours when he heard a loud explosion.

He had been sleeping for five hours when he heard a loud explosion.

I believe both sentences are correct. Am I correct to say so?

Thanks.

 

[bhaisahab]

He was sleeping for five hours when he heard a loud explosion.

He had been sleeping for five hours when he heard a loud explosion.

I believe both sentences are correct. Am I correct to say so?

Thanks.

No, the second one is correct.

 

[rhapsomatrics]

Watch out for these words:before,after,while,during,when...they are time adverbs which agree with past perfect or past perfect progressive verbs...'He slept before I returned(incorrect) 'He had slept before I returned(correct(past perfect) ) or 'He had been sleeping before I returned'(correct(past perfect progressive) )

 

[rhapsomatrics]

He was sleeping for five hours when he heard a loud explosion.

He had been sleeping for five hours when he heard a loud explosion.

I believe both sentences are correct. Am I correct to say so?

Thanks.

You can also say 'he had slept for five hours..."

 

[5jj]

Watch out for these words:space"before",space"after",space"while",space"during",space"when"...they are time adverbs which [STRIKE]agree[/STRIKE] are used (?) with past perfect or past perfect progressive verbs.

These words can be used with many tenses and aspects English. Here are some examples with past tense forms:

He changed before he left.
He left after I arrived.
She washed up while I was finishing my reports.
George looked unhappy when I told him the news.

In the original sentence, when is a conjunction.
During is a preposition.
.