Simple past and Past Continuous - notes

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When using the past continuous + simple past to talk about an action that was interrupted by another action, connect the two actions with:

WHILE + PAST CONT: While he was skating, he fell.

WHEN + SIMPLE PAST: He was skating when he fell.

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You can use past continuous with WHILE or WHEN to talk about 2 actions in progress at the same time in the past. the past continuous in both clauses.

Example: While Clark leaving the room, Lois was calling the police.

When she wasn't looking, he was changing into Superman.

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Be careful! Sentences with uses in simple past ave a very different meaning from sentences with one clause in the simple past and the other one in past continuous.

Example: When he came home, she was reading the paper.

When he came home, she read the paper.