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When and while

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Janet Law
Janet Law

This document discusses the difference between using "while" and "when" to link actions in the past. It states that "while" is used to connect two continuous actions that happened simultaneously in the past tense, whereas "when" connects a long ongoing action in the past continuous tense with a short action that occurred in the past simple tense. Examples are provided to illustrate the proper usage of each conjunction.

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The use of when and while
While We use while to link two continuous actions that happened at the same time in the past. We use the past continuous tense for both actions.
while Tom and Mary were doing their homework. NOW 5:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m. Mum was cooking the dinner. Tom and Mary were doing their homework while Mum was cooking the dinner.
while Tom was eating. NOW 5:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m. Tom was watching TV. Tom was eating while he was watching TV.
When We use when to link a long action and a short action. We use the past continuous tense for the long action. We use the past tense for the short action.
when Tim was doing his homework. NOW 5:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m. Mum came home at 6:30 p.m. Tim was doing his homework when Mum came home.
when Tim was taking a shower. NOW 5:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m. The doorbell rang. Tim was taking a shower when the doorbell rang.
Two actions were happening at the same time in the past (draw a picture) (smile) was drawing a picture while he was smiling. John __________________________________________
A long action was happening and then a short action happened in the past. (use the computer) (the computer break down) was using the computer when the computer Mr.Lee ______________________________________ broke down. _______________________
A long action was happening and then a short action happened in the past. (Grandma fall on the floor) (Mary skip) fell on the floor when Mary was skipping Grandma ______________________________________
Two actions were happening at the same time in the past (The man eat) (The women chat) were chatting while the man was eating. The women _____________________________________
Note: e.g. 1. I was cooking dinner when I burnt my arm. 2. I burnt my arm while I was cooking dinner. We can also use while in the second sentence, but while must be followed by past continuous tense. I was cooking dinner while I burnt my arm

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When and while

  • 1. The use of when and while
  • 2. While We use while to link two continuous actions that happened at the same time in the past. We use the past continuous tense for both actions.
  • 3. while Tom and Mary were doing their homework. NOW 5:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m. Mum was cooking the dinner. Tom and Mary were doing their homework while Mum was cooking the dinner.
  • 4. while Tom was eating. NOW 5:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m. Tom was watching TV. Tom was eating while he was watching TV.
  • 5. When We use when to link a long action and a short action. We use the past continuous tense for the long action. We use the past tense for the short action.
  • 6. when Tim was doing his homework. NOW 5:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m. Mum came home at 6:30 p.m. Tim was doing his homework when Mum came home.
  • 7. when Tim was taking a shower. NOW 5:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m. The doorbell rang. Tim was taking a shower when the doorbell rang.
  • 8. Two actions were happening at the same time in the past (draw a picture) (smile) was drawing a picture while he was smiling. John __________________________________________
  • 9. A long action was happening and then a short action happened in the past. (use the computer) (the computer break down) was using the computer when the computer Mr.Lee ______________________________________ broke down. _______________________
  • 10. A long action was happening and then a short action happened in the past. (Grandma fall on the floor) (Mary skip) fell on the floor when Mary was skipping Grandma ______________________________________
  • 11. Two actions were happening at the same time in the past (The man eat) (The women chat) were chatting while the man was eating. The women _____________________________________
  • 12. Note: e.g. 1. I was cooking dinner when I burnt my arm. 2. I burnt my arm while I was cooking dinner. We can also use while in the second sentence, but while must be followed by past continuous tense. I was cooking dinner while I burnt my arm