When the rain was falling

[hellokitty]

Hi teachers,

I have a question about the following multiple-choice-fill-in-the-gap quiz,

When the rain -----, my sister and I were playing tennis.
(A) was starting (B) started (C) begins to start (D) was falling

The answer key says the correct choice is (B), but I feel (D) is also right for the sentence.
Would you tell me why (D) is not correct?

Kitty

 

[Raymott]

Hi teachers,

I have a question about the following multiple-choice-fill-in-the-gap quiz,

When the rain -----, my sister and I were playing tennis.
(A) was starting (B) started (C) begins to start (D) was falling

The answer key says the correct choice is (B), but I feel (D) is also right for the sentence.
Would you tell me why (D) is not correct?

Kitty

B is the most correct answer, In these puzzles, the choices can be all possible, but you have to choose the one that is most obviously correct. You have to work out what they are actually asking you.
This question is testing your knowledge of the grammar for two events, one which is ongoing, and one which occurs interrupting that ongoing activity.
Yes, D makes sense, but I'd expect "While ..." for D, if the two events were going on at the same time.

 

[hellokitty]

Thank you, Raymott!
Now I get it!

 

[SoothingDave]

Most sensible people come in out of the rain, so it makes more sense to say that they were playing tennis when it started raining.

 

[Winwin2011]

1. Is it natural to say 'When the rain has fallen, my sister and I were playing tennis'?
2. Is it common to say 'The rain has gone' instead of 'The rain has stopped'?

Thanks.

 

[5jj]

1. Is it natural to say 'When the rain has fallen, my sister and I were playing tennis'?
2. Is it common to say 'The rain has gone' instead of 'The rain has stopped'?

#1 is incorrect; #2 is not common.