[Grammar] while they were maintain contact, they weren't really discussing important topics

[newkeenlearner]

Hi,
Does "while" here mean "although" ? If not, what is the use and function of "while" here?

Although these Internet users reported that they corresponded more often with family members, the content of this correspondence tended to be pretty superficial. They were forwarding each other jokes via emails, or just instant messaging short notes back and forth. So, while they were maintain contact, they weren't really discussing important topics with each other or getting to know one another better.

 

[Rover_KE]

Yes, but while/although they were maintain contact is ungrammatical.

Can you put it right?

 

[newkeenlearner]

Can you put it right?

Thank you. Yes. It should be like:
while/although they were maintaining contact, they weren't really discussing important topics with each other or getting to know one another better.

Because we often use with "present continuous form", it is often confusing to know if while means although or not.

 

[yi-ing]

So, while they were maintain contact, they weren't really discussing important topics with each other or getting to know one another better.

Is following correct, too?

So, while they were maintaining contact, they didn't seem really to be discussing important topics with each other or getting to know one another better.

 

[teechar]

Because we often use it with a [STRIKE]present[/STRIKE] continuous form, it is often confusing to know if while means although or not.

.

 

[teechar]

So, while they were maintaining contact, they weren't really discussing important topics with each other or getting to know one another better.

Is the following correct too?

So, while they were maintaining contact, they didn't seem really to be discussing important topics with each other or getting to know one another better.

I would put "really" between "didn't" and "seem."