naweewra
Member
- Joined
- May 19, 2011
- Member Type
- Student or Learner
- Native Language
- Thai
- Home Country
- Thailand
- Current Location
- Thailand
Hello,
Are both Past Simple and Past Continuous verb forms acceptable in the following sentence?
"When the teacher [looked/was looking] out the window, he slipped a note to his friend."
a) When the teacher looked out the window, he slipped a note to his friend.
To me, the Past Simple form implies a sequence of action. The teacher looked out the window. Then he slipped a note to a friend.
b) When the teacher was looking out the window, he slipped a note to his friend.
c) While the teacher was looking out the window, he slipped a note to his friend.
Can the action of looking out the window be the background if "look" is in the Past Continuous form? Or for the sentence to make sense, I would have to change from "when" to "while"?
Do "when" and "while" in these sentences differ much in meaning?
Thank you.
Nawee
Are both Past Simple and Past Continuous verb forms acceptable in the following sentence?
"When the teacher [looked/was looking] out the window, he slipped a note to his friend."
a) When the teacher looked out the window, he slipped a note to his friend.
To me, the Past Simple form implies a sequence of action. The teacher looked out the window. Then he slipped a note to a friend.
b) When the teacher was looking out the window, he slipped a note to his friend.
c) While the teacher was looking out the window, he slipped a note to his friend.
Can the action of looking out the window be the background if "look" is in the Past Continuous form? Or for the sentence to make sense, I would have to change from "when" to "while"?
Do "when" and "while" in these sentences differ much in meaning?
Thank you.
Nawee