When my father....this photo, I was eating.

[abo.omar]

When my father....this photo, I was eating.
a- took
b- was taking
My answer is a took.
Can b be a correct answer in any context?

 

[emsr2d2]

Am I really having to ask you again for the source of this question?

 

[abo.omar]

Am I really having to ask you again for the source of this question?

No, you do not have to ask me. It is from an Egyptian school exam.

 

[emsr2d2]

When are you going to remember to put the source in post #1? I'm not going to answer any more of these questions, I'm afraid. It's a waste of my time.

 

[jutfrank]

Yes, there could be contexts where b fits. For that reason, the question is not valid.

The idea of this type of multiple choice question is that there is only one correct answer.

 

[Tdol]

A) would be used in the vast majority of contexts, but b) is possible, which makes it a poor question.

 

[abo.omar]

Is there a difference in meaning in both possibilities?

 

[jutfrank]

Is there a difference in meaning in both possibilities?

Yes, of course. Different tenses have different meaning.

In this question, a) produces a past simple clause whereas b) produces a past continuous one. Perhaps you could ask those relatives on whose behalf you're asking this question what they already know about the meaning and uses of these tenses. Alternatively, you tell us what you think, and we'll tell you if you're right.

 

[abo.omar]

Yes, of course. Different tenses have different meaning.

In this question, a) produces a past simple clause whereas b) produces a past continuous one. Perhaps you could ask those relatives on whose behalf you're asking this question what they already know about the meaning and uses of these tenses. Alternatively, you tell us what you think, and we'll tell you if you're right.

Let me ask you, what is the difference between:
1-When my father took this photo, I was eating.
2-When my father was taking this photo, I was eating.

 

[Phaedrus]

Let me ask you, what is the difference between:
1-When my father took this photo, I was eating.
2-When my father was taking this photo, I was eating.

In (1), your father started and finished taking the photo while you were eating. Sentence (2) focuses on the middle of the act.

One possible context for (2) is that he took a number of photos, all except this one having been thrown out. You were eating all the while.

Another possibility for (2) is that he just took one photo and needed to ask you to stop chewing before he felt comfortable pressing the button.

 

[jutfrank]

Let me ask you, what is the difference between:
1-When my father took this photo, I was eating.
2-When my father was taking this photo, I was eating.

The difference is the aspect, which is the way that the speaker understands the action of taking the photo. I can explain it very basically like this:

In 1, the past simple shows that the action is a single action.
In 2, the past continuous shows that the action is a progressive action, which took some time to happen.