0
Anonymous Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Grammar question

Hi

I have couple of doubts about the next sentences.

She had been working at that company for a year when she met James. --- I know that this sentence is right but what about this one:

She was working at that company for a year when she met James. --- What's the difference? I'm pretty sure that I understand but I want to make sure.
  

Top answer

She had been working at that company for a year when she met James. The sentence focuses on the length of time of her employment before the event. She was working at that company for a year when she met James.

— AlpheccaStars

Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

10 Answers
0
She had been working at that company for a year when she met James. The sentence focuses on the length of time of her employment before the event.
She was working at that company for a year when she met James. Expressions of time duration are not used with the continuous tenses. This sentence focuses on what she was d
0
0
So, basically both sentences shows the same result. The only difference betwen these two sentences is just length of time of her employment. She met James anyway.

Am I right?
0
0
Dusan StojilkovicSo, basically both sentences shows the same result. The only difference betwen these two sentences is just length of time of her employment. She met James anyway.
Well, not exactly.
The second says nothing about how long she had been working there. maybe a week, maybe twenty years. It only says she was there at the time.
0
0
Okay, thanks a lot.

I have some questions about the other tense. Should I ask here or open another topic?
0
0
If you open a new topic, you are likely to get replies from others.
0
0
But I can get replies here from others here, in this topic?
0
0
People sometimes jump into a thread, but more often, if there is a post with no replies, it stands out more.
0
0
Well, I'm going to open a new thread and post my new questions.
0
0
AlpheccaStars. Expressions of time duration are not used with the continuous tenses.
How come? The past perfect continuous is used to express time duration. Could you explain this? I've heard sentence like this 412124 times: We were talking for 5 hours.

Sorry, I know this is an old topic, but I had to revive it.
0
0
?
0