English Grammar Guide


The Past Continuous Tense: Conjunctions


Usage - Conjunctions: when/while

We can use when with the past simple clause or for the past continuous clause.

We can use while with the past continuous clause only.

  • when + PAST SIMP./PAST CON.
  • When she arrived, I was working.
  • She arrived when I was working.
  • while + PAST CON.
  • She arrived while I was working.

Examples - Past Continuous with when

PAST CON. CLAUSEwhenPAST SIMPLE
I was sleepingwhenhe called.
I was workingwhenshe arrived.

Examples - Past Continuous with when

WhenPAST SIMPLEPAST CONTINUOUS
Whenhe called,I was sleeping.
Whenshe arrived,I was working.

Examples - Past Continuous with when and while

PAST SIMPLEwhen/whilePAST CON.
He calledwhenI was sleeping.
She arrivedwhenI was working.
He calledwhileI was sleeping.
She arrivedwhileI was working.

Examples - Past Continuous with when and while

When/WhilePAST CONT.PAST SIMPLE
WhenI was sleeping,he called.
WhenI was working,she arrived.
WhileI was sleeping,he called.
WhileI was working,she arrived.

Examples - Past Continuous with while

PAST CONTINUOUSwhilePAST CON.
I was listening to musicwhileI was jogging.
I was breathingwhileI was singing.

Usage - Conjunctions: so/because/until

We use so for the result. We use because for the reason.

We use until for the time period before something ends.

  • REASON + so + RESULT
  • I was tired so I went to bed.
  • RESULT + because + REASON
  • I ate some food because I was hungry.
  • ... until IT ENDS
  • I slept until my alarm woke me up.

Examples - Past Simple with so

REASON CLAUSEsoRESULT CLAUSE
I was tiredsoI went to bed.
I was hungrysoI ate some food.

Examples - Past Simple with because

RESULT CLAUSEbecauseREASON CLAUSE
I went to bedbecauseI was tired.
I ate some foodbecauseI was hungry.

Examples - Past Simple with until

ACTIONuntilTIME or TIME CLAUSE
I workeduntilmidnight.
I sleptuntilmy alarm woke me up.
I didn't fall asleepuntilthree o'clock.
They didn't startuntilhe arrived.
Symbols & Abbreviations
CONT.Contraction
PAST CON.Past Continuous
PAST SIMP.Past Simple

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See Also

01) The Past Simple Tense: Regular Verbs

02) The Past Simple Tense: Irregular Verbs

03) The Past Simple Tense: Negatives

04) The Past Simple Tense: Open Questions

05) The Past Simple Tense: Closed Questions & Short Answers

06) The Past Simple Tense: Verbs vs Be

07) The Present Simple Tense vs The Past Simple Tense

08) The Present Continuous Tense: Verb Forms

09) The Past Continuous Tense: Verb Forms

10) The Past Continuous Tense: Negatives

11) The Past Continuous Tense: Open Questions

12) The Past Continuous Tense: Closed Questions & Short Answers




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