Past Tenses

Question

Hello!!!I would like to know if we can use past simple for simultaneous actions in the past. For example, is it correct to say "I cooked while my friend watched TV"? I am asking this because it is more common to use past continuous and say "I was cooking while my friend was watching TV".Thank you!!!Christina

Philip · Accepted Answer

AnonymousHello!!!

I would like to know if we can use past simple for simultaneous actions in the past. For example, is it correct to say "I cooked while my friend watched TV"? I am asking this because it is more common to use past continuous and say "I was cooking while my friend was watching TV".

Thank you!!!

Christina

If you want to emphasize a relatively long period of time, the past continuous is fine. The simple past in both clauses is also acceptable if you are just emphasizing the fact that both actions occured.

For beginning purposes, I usually have students use when with the simple past and while with the continuous.

Mr Wordy · Answer

Yes, sentences like "I cooked while my friend watched TV" are OK.

Past Tenses

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