Notes: past simple and past continuous
EventA general term expressing that somebody or something does something or that something happens. E.g.: An apple fell on Isaac’s head.s and background descriptions in a story
In a story which is told in past time the events are expressed with past simple, whereas for background description past continuous is used.
Ten people were sitting around the table. It was raining outside. Suddenly the door opened and a woman entered the room. She was wearing flared trousers. Everyone stared at her but she didn't say anything. She slowly went to the table and put an envelope on it. They were just staring at her as she left the room.
Notice the difference between these two sentences in the story:
Everyone stared at her...
They were just staring at her...
The first one expresses a momentary event, while the second one a continuous action, let's say a stateA condition that exists at a particular time. E.g.: I am sick. This melon weighs two kilos. . Here is another example for this contrast:
I went home at 7. (completed action)
At 7 I was going home. (action in progress)
The Sleeping Beauty
The story of The Sleeping Beauty might help to understand the differences. In the original story:
...while she was sleeping, the prince kissed her.
This means that she was asleep when he kissed her (once). First, let's put both clauseA group of related words containing a subject and a verb.s into the past continuous:
...while she was sleeping, the prince was kissing her.
This means that during the time she was asleep he kept kissing her (several times or for some time). Now let's see what happens if both clauses are in the past simple:
...she fell asleep when the prince kissed her.
or
...she fell asleep and the prince kissed her.
In the first case first he kissed her and then she fell asleep, while in the second sentence it is just the opposite, she fell asleep and then he kissed her. The last version of the story is as follows:
...she fell asleep while he was kissing her.
Probably this was quite a bit annoying for the prince!
Comments
1 Traducción española de los ejemplos
Diez personas estaban sentadas alrededor de la mesa. Estaba lloviendo fuera. De repente la puerta se abrió y una mujer entró en la habitación. Ella llevaba los pantalones quemados. Todo el mundo la miró, pero ella no dijo nada. Ella lentamente se dirigió a la mesa y puso un sobre encima. Ellos solo se quedaron mirándola hasta que abandonó la habitación.
Todo el mundo la miró...
Ellos solo se quedaron mirándola...
Fui a casa a las 7.
A las 7 estaba yendo a casa.
.. mientras ella estaba durmiendo, el príncipe la besó.
... mientras ella estaba durmiendo el príncipe estaba besándola.
... ella se durmió cuando el príncipe la besó.
... ella se durmió y el príncipe la besó.
... ella se durmió cuando el príncipe estaba besándola.
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